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Heat Illness and Extreme Weather Health Literacy: Communication Preferences and Effectiveness for Patients Living in Climate-Change-Vulnerable Communities
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Heat Illness and Extreme Weather Health Literacy: Communication Preferences and Effectiveness for Patients Living in Climate-Change-Vulnerable Communities

Todd L. Sack, Aran R. Thiravialingam, Carlos Suanes Zubizarreta, Robby Felix, Rita Kanazeh, Innah Lachica, Eddy Hernandez Cuesta, Alan Martin, Frederick Anderson and Cheryl Holder
International journal of environmental research and public health, v 22(3), 434
14 Mar 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22030434
PMID: 40238549
url
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22030434View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

behavioral change extreme heat health education health emergency health literacy heat-related illness Climate Change Environmental Justice Health Promotion
Health professionals are trusted information sources and could be valuable for improving climate change health literacy. Few studies address teaching patients about health risks associated with climate change, and no studies have focused on the medical office waiting room as a teaching site for populations from heat-vulnerable neighborhoods. We gave adult patients in primary care office waiting rooms printed teaching materials about heat-related illnesses. We asked them to read these at home and then complete an online confidential survey concerning their preferences among teaching methods and their preferences for communication during health emergencies. Ninety-one surveys were received from patients residing in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods. Patients liked receiving information in waiting rooms. Printed brochures were favored statistically by patients, but other teaching methods that are feasible for waiting rooms also rated well, including single-page printed fliers, posters, and video screens. Digital options were far less favored. We conclude that printed teaching materials may improve decisions that impact human health. The medical office waiting room appears to be an accepted, time-efficient, and effective site to communicate knowledge on climate change and health. Additionally, medical offices could play a role supporting government agencies to communicate with patients during weather-related health emergencies.

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