A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (cRCT) Evaluating the Effects of Cool Roofs on Mental Health Outcomes in Ahmedabad, India
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Active, not recruiting
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 800
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Depression
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Ambient air temperatures in India have broken record highs. Solutions are needed to build heat resilience in communities and adapt to increasing heat from climate change. Sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings may passively reduce indoor temperatures and energy use to protect home occupants from extreme heat. Occupants living in poor housing conditions are susceptible to increased heat exposure.
Heat exposure can instigate and worsen mental health. The worst adverse health effects are experienced in communities that are least able to adapt to heat exposure. By reducing indoor temperatures, cool roof use can promote mental wellbeing in household occupants.
The long-term research goal of the investigators is to identify viable passive housing adaptation technologies with proven health benefits to reduce the burden of heat stress in communities affected by heat. To meet this goal, the investigators will conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial to establish the effects of cool roof use on mental health in Ahmedabad, India.
Detailed Description
Increasing heat exposure from climate change is causing and exacerbating heat-related illnesses in millions worldwide - particularly in low resource settings. June 2024 was the 13th consecutive hottest month on record globally - shattering previous records. Heat exposure can instigate and worsen mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and aggression. Adaptation is essential for protecting people from increasing heat exposure. The built environment, especially homes, are ideal for deploying interventions to reduce heat exposure and accelerate adaptation efforts. However, there currently is a lack of evidence on a global scale - generated through empirical studies - guiding the uptake of interventions to reduce heat stress in low resource settings.
Sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings passively reduce indoor temperatures and lower energy use, offering protection to home occupants from extreme heat. The investigators therefore aim to conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of cool-roof use on mental health outcomes in Ahmedabad.
The trial will quantify whether cool roofs are an effective passive home cooling intervention with beneficial health effects for vulnerable populations in Ahmedabad. Findings will inform regional policy responses on scaling cool roof implementation to protect people from increasing heat exposure driven by climate change.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description
Trial participants will be aware of the intervention to which they have been allocated, and the research fieldworkers will be aware of the intervention allocation. The trial steering committee members and trial statistician will remain blinded until the end of trial period and data collection.
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Permanent household resident.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Roof damage, inaccessible or instability of roof adversely affecting cool roof coating application.
- •Participant unable to provide written/verbal informed consent.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Depression
Time Frame: Eight measurements will be taken: one at baseline and seven over 12 months, covering three consecutive hottest months and four alternate months.
Self-reported presence and frequency of symptoms of depression assessed using aggregate score of the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). Minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 27 with a higher score meaning a worse outcome.
Secondary Outcomes
- Aggression(Eight measurements: one at baseline and seven over 12 months, covering three consecutive hottest months and four alternate months.)
- Mental Well-being(One measurement at the end of follow-up at 12 months post-intervention)
- Resilience(One measurement at the end of follow-up at 12 months post-intervention.)
- Eco-anxiety(One measurement taken at the end of follow-up at 12 months post-intervention.)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(One measurement taken at the end of follow-up at 12 months post-intervention.)
- Anxiety(One measurement at the end of follow-up at 12 months post-intervention.)
Investigators
Aditi Bunker
Co-principal investigator
University of Auckland, New Zealand