Assessing the Effectiveness of Heat Adaptation Digital Messages From Primary Care Providers to Th… (NCT07024628) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Assessing the Effectiveness of Heat Adaptation Digital Messages From Primary Care Providers to Their Patients on the Change in Behaviour for Heatwave-related Preparedness
Canada20,000 participantsStarted 2025-04-01
Plain-language summary
Extreme heat events pose a significant health threat in Canada, as demonstrated by the 2021 heat wave that claimed over 600 lives in Western Canada. Most heat-related deaths occur indoors and are preventable. Primary care providers (PCPs), who serve 88% of Canadians, are uniquely positioned to identify and support at-risk individuals. Heat Smart, in alignment with Heat Alert and Response Systems (HARS), aims to bridge the gap between primary care and public health to enhance community resilience and reduce health inequities related to extreme heat events.
This randomized control trial in Eastern Ontario will examine whether patients receiving tailored digital health messages from their family physician or nurse practitioner change their behaviour to protect themselves from extreme heat-related illness. The Heat Smart study will:
* Assess risk: Analyze electronic medical records and patient surveys to identify vulnerable individuals.
* Deliver tailored messages: Send personalized digital guidance via e-mail or text, offering heat safety advice and local resource information in English and French.
* Issue early warning alerts: Notify at-risk patients of upcoming heat events, prompting action.
* Evaluate impact: Use surveys and health data to measure effectiveness in reducing heat-related health impacts.
Short-term outcomes include increased awareness and preparedness among patients about heat-related health risks. Long-term goals involve scaling the intervention across Canada to reduce heat-related illnesses, enhance social connectedness, and decrease healthcare utilization.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
The Heat Smart randomized controlled trial study will recruit patients and primary care providers (PCPs) from Eastern Ontario. The inclusion criteria ensure that the intervention reaches at-risk individuals while being scalable across different patient populations:
Primary Care Patients:
* Adults (18 years and older)
* Patients must be registered with a participating PCP.
* They must have had at least one visit with their PCP in the past two years to ensure active engagement.
* Participants must have an active email, cell phone or messaging service (SMS) to receive Heat Smart digital messages.
* Patients must be able to understand and consent to participate in the study.
* Patients must be able to communicate in at least one of the official languages (English, French).
* Participants will be recruited from PCP located in two Eastern Ontario public health districts: the Eastern Ontario Health Unit and Ottawa Public Health (including urban, rural, and Indigenous communities such as Akwesasne).
Primary Care Providers:
* Must be a licensed Family Physician (FP) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) in a practice of at least 2 PCPS.
* The providers must be offering comprehensive primary care to a panel of patients (not solely urgent care or walk-in services).
* Must work in a computerized primary care clinic with an electronic medical record system.
* Must expect to remain in practice for at least 24 months.
* Must be located in Eastern Ontario.
* Must be willing to …
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Number of participants who report adopting at least one heat adaptation behaviour via self-report survey
Timeframe: Assessed after a heatwave event, up to 2 years following enrollment.