Heat-health messaging in Canada: A review and content analysis of public health authority webpages and resources
Background: With the growing threat posed by extreme heat, heat-health messaging communicated by public health authorities is critical for raising community awareness and action. This study sought to (i) identify what heat-health content is shared online by Canadian public health authorities and (ii...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Public Health in Practice |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535224001137 |
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| author | Emily J. Tetzlaff Katie E. Wagar Sarah J.I. Johnson Melissa Gorman Glen P. Kenny |
| author_facet | Emily J. Tetzlaff Katie E. Wagar Sarah J.I. Johnson Melissa Gorman Glen P. Kenny |
| author_sort | Emily J. Tetzlaff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: With the growing threat posed by extreme heat, heat-health messaging communicated by public health authorities is critical for raising community awareness and action. This study sought to (i) identify what heat-health content is shared online by Canadian public health authorities and (ii) analyse the material to develop an understanding of the content included within the resources. Study design: Qualitative content analysis. Methods: We reviewed public health authority websites in Canada (n = 99) and extracted all available heat-health content. Content analysis of each resource was performed using descriptive codes related to three categories - populations at greater risk, actions to reduce risk and awareness and knowledge. Results: Within the public health authority websites searched, 417 webpages and online resources were identified (range: 1–43). Over half of the material came from regional health authorities (56 %), primarily located in Ontario and British Columbia (60 %). At least one population at greater risk of heat stress (e.g., older adults, children) (range: 0–24) was mentioned in 59 % of the materials, 81 % mentioned at least one action or behaviour to reduce risk (e.g., stay hydrated) (range: 0–40), and 91 % provided material related to raising awareness and knowledge (range: 0–12). Conclusions: Although a wide array of webpages and online resources were identified, the material content and availability varied considerably across authorities and provinces and territories. These results provide important insights into the composition of heat-health webpages and online resources within Canada and can help guide relevant revisions and additions to the existing heat-health materials. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dddf4d019d2f44edae01a696c18175b0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-5352 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health in Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-dddf4d019d2f44edae01a696c18175b02025-01-12T05:25:52ZengElsevierPublic Health in Practice2666-53522025-06-019100576Heat-health messaging in Canada: A review and content analysis of public health authority webpages and resourcesEmily J. Tetzlaff0Katie E. Wagar1Sarah J.I. Johnson2Melissa Gorman3Glen P. Kenny4Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Climate Change and Health Office, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, CanadaHuman and Environmental Physiology Research Unit, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, CanadaHuman and Environmental Physiology Research Unit, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, CanadaClimate Change and Health Office, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, CanadaHuman and Environmental Physiology Research Unit, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Corresponding author. University of Ottawa, School of Human Kinetics, 125 University Private, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.Background: With the growing threat posed by extreme heat, heat-health messaging communicated by public health authorities is critical for raising community awareness and action. This study sought to (i) identify what heat-health content is shared online by Canadian public health authorities and (ii) analyse the material to develop an understanding of the content included within the resources. Study design: Qualitative content analysis. Methods: We reviewed public health authority websites in Canada (n = 99) and extracted all available heat-health content. Content analysis of each resource was performed using descriptive codes related to three categories - populations at greater risk, actions to reduce risk and awareness and knowledge. Results: Within the public health authority websites searched, 417 webpages and online resources were identified (range: 1–43). Over half of the material came from regional health authorities (56 %), primarily located in Ontario and British Columbia (60 %). At least one population at greater risk of heat stress (e.g., older adults, children) (range: 0–24) was mentioned in 59 % of the materials, 81 % mentioned at least one action or behaviour to reduce risk (e.g., stay hydrated) (range: 0–40), and 91 % provided material related to raising awareness and knowledge (range: 0–12). Conclusions: Although a wide array of webpages and online resources were identified, the material content and availability varied considerably across authorities and provinces and territories. These results provide important insights into the composition of heat-health webpages and online resources within Canada and can help guide relevant revisions and additions to the existing heat-health materials.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535224001137Public healthExtreme heatHeat waveHeat vulnerableHeat-health messagingHeat alert response system |
| spellingShingle | Emily J. Tetzlaff Katie E. Wagar Sarah J.I. Johnson Melissa Gorman Glen P. Kenny Heat-health messaging in Canada: A review and content analysis of public health authority webpages and resources Public Health in Practice Public health Extreme heat Heat wave Heat vulnerable Heat-health messaging Heat alert response system |
| title | Heat-health messaging in Canada: A review and content analysis of public health authority webpages and resources |
| title_full | Heat-health messaging in Canada: A review and content analysis of public health authority webpages and resources |
| title_fullStr | Heat-health messaging in Canada: A review and content analysis of public health authority webpages and resources |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heat-health messaging in Canada: A review and content analysis of public health authority webpages and resources |
| title_short | Heat-health messaging in Canada: A review and content analysis of public health authority webpages and resources |
| title_sort | heat health messaging in canada a review and content analysis of public health authority webpages and resources |
| topic | Public health Extreme heat Heat wave Heat vulnerable Heat-health messaging Heat alert response system |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535224001137 |
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