The Impact of a Sustainable Prevention Program on Heat Strain Among Agricultural Elderly Workers in the Context of Climate Change
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Cairo University
- Enrollment
- 120
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in heat strain score from baseline to post-intervention
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The study explores a multi-component heat strain prevention program for older agricultural workers in response to climate change. It assesses hydration, rest breaks, reflective clothing, and shade provision. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, it targets 120 elderly workers, evaluating core temperature, heart rate, and heat strain symptoms. The goal is to establish the program's effectiveness in safeguarding worker health and safety amidst increasing temperatures, offering evidence-based recommendations for this vulnerable group and potentially other occupations affected by climate change.
Detailed Description
This intervention study is designed to assess the efficacy of a sustainable heat strain prevention program tailored for elderly agricultural workers. It targets a specific population of 120 workers aged 60 years and above from Manial Shiha village. The study utilizes a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design, dividing participants into intervention and control groups.
The core of the study involves a 4-week Sustainable Prevention Program, emphasizing practical and adoptable strategies like adequate hydration, regular rest breaks, the use of lightweight reflective clothing, and the provision of portable shade covers. This program is delivered through interactive methods including lectures, demonstrations, and group discussions, supplemented with educational materials.
Physiological responses to the program will be rigorously measured, employing core temperature sensors and heart rate monitors to provide objective data on the physical impact of the interventions. These measures, along with self-reported symptoms and heat strain levels collected through structured questionnaires, form the basis for a comprehensive evaluation of the program's effectiveness.
The study aims to provide a quantifiable reduction in heat strain indicators, offering insights into the program's potential for broader application in similar vulnerable populations
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 60 Years to 90 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Age 60 years or older
- •Actively working in agricultural occupations (farming, field labor, etc.)
- •Available to participate during the 4-week intervention timeline
- •Fluent in spoken and written Arabic
- •Agree to wear physiological monitoring devices during work
Exclusion Criteria
- •Unable to provide informed consent
- •Cognitive impairments affecting ability to understand and implement program guidelines
- •Dependence on supportive equipment like canes or wheelchairs
- •Chronic medical conditions expected to worsen with heat exposure (e.g. uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, kidney failure)
- •Required regular medications that impair thermoregulation
- •Allergies or sensitivities to monitoring devices and their attachments that cannot be mitigated
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in heat strain score from baseline to post-intervention
Time Frame: Baseline heat strain scores will be calculated from questionnaires completed 1 week prior to launching the program Post-intervention heat strain scores will be calculated from questionnaires completed within 1 week after finishing the 4-week program
The heat strain score is calculated from participant questionnaires assessing environmental conditions, workload, access to shade, and individual heat tolerance symptoms. Scores range from 0-30, with higher scores indicating greater levels of heat strain. Heat strain levels are categorized as low/no strain (score \<13.5), potential risk (13.6-18), or high risk (\>18). The primary outcome measure will evaluate the change in heat strain score from baseline (before starting the Sustainable Prevention Program) to post-intervention (after completing the 4-week program).
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
Mostafa Shaban
Lecturer
Cairo University