Education and Resources for Heat Stress

Overseen By Nicolas I Lopez-Galvez, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: San Diego State University

Disqualifiers: Not living in Imperial County

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to understand and reduce the heat and chemical exposure that farmworkers in Imperial County face both at work and at home. Participants will wear devices to measure heat and chemical levels and provide samples for analysis. A community health worker will assist farmworkers in finding ways to lower these exposures through the Community Health Worker Intervention. The trial is open to those currently living and working in agriculture in Imperial County who plan to stay for at least six more months. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the opportunity to contribute to important research that could improve health and safety for farmworkers.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems unlikely that you would need to stop, as the study focuses on measuring heat and chemical exposure, not on medication effects.

What prior data suggests that this protocol is safe for participants?

Research shows that programs led by community health workers to reduce heat stress are generally safe. These programs emphasize teaching and behavior change rather than risky medical treatments. They provide advice on staying cool and maintaining hydration. For instance, community health workers might demonstrate how to increase water intake or suggest methods to avoid overheating.

These programs are considered safe because they involve simple advice and lifestyle changes, not drugs or medical procedures. No reports of negative effects have emerged from these programs, making them a safe choice for those seeking to reduce heat and chemical exposure. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Community Health Worker Intervention for heat stress because it focuses on education and resource distribution, which is a novel approach compared to traditional treatments. Most current treatments for heat stress involve emergency medical interventions like hydration, cooling techniques, or medications. However, this intervention aims to prevent heat stress by empowering communities with knowledge and resources, potentially reducing the occurrence and severity of heat-related issues. This proactive approach could lead to more sustainable and widespread impact, making it a promising strategy in public health.

What evidence suggests that the Community Health Worker Intervention is effective for reducing heat and chemical exposure?

Research has shown that community health worker programs can reduce heat stress and chemical exposure for farmworkers. These programs teach protective measures against heat, improving "heat literacy." Some programs have even resulted in fewer emergency hospital visits due to heat. Although not all health issues are addressed, these strategies are valuable for managing heat-related risks. In this trial, all participants will receive the Community Health Worker Intervention, which aims to support farmworkers' health by providing education and resources to better manage heat. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for farmworkers living in Imperial County, California who work in agriculture and plan to stay in the area for at least six months. It's not suitable for those who don't meet these specific conditions.

Inclusion Criteria

Currently living in Imperial County, California, USA

Plan on living in Imperial Valley for the next 6 months

I currently work in agriculture.

Exclusion Criteria

Not planning to live in Imperial Valley for the next 6 months

Not currently living in Imperial County, California, USA

Not currently working in agriculture

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants' heat and chemical exposure levels are measured using wearable devices and home monitors. Biological samples are collected for analysis.

1 week

2 visits (in-person)

Intervention

Community health workers provide assistance to reduce heat and chemical exposure.

4 weeks

Post-Intervention Assessment

Heat and chemical exposure levels are measured again using the same methods to evaluate the intervention's effectiveness.

1 week

2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any additional feedback and to discuss improvements for future projects.

2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Community Health Worker Intervention

Trial Overview

The study tests if education and resources provided by community health workers can reduce heat stress and chemical exposures among farmworkers. Participants will wear monitoring devices and provide samples to measure their exposure levels before and after intervention.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: All participants Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

All participants will receive the intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

San Diego State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

182

Recruited

119,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A participatory heat education intervention significantly improved heat knowledge among farmworkers, with average scores increasing from 4.6 to 6.3 over the summer season, indicating its effectiveness in enhancing awareness of heat-related risks.

The intervention group showed a greater improvement in knowledge compared to the control group, suggesting that culturally-tailored education can be a valuable tool in preventing heat-related health issues among farmworkers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of Participatory Heat Education on Agricultural Worker Knowledge. Marquez, D., Krenz, JE., Chavez Santos, É., et al.[2023]

The study focused on a rest-shade-water intervention program aimed at preventing heat-stress-related kidney disease among workers in a Nicaraguan sugarcane field, highlighting the importance of effective implementation in assessing intervention success.

Key lessons learned emphasize that a transdisciplinary approach is essential for designing and implementing health interventions, as well as the need for strong communication between researchers and management to balance worker health and productivity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Workplace Intervention for Heat Stress: Essential Elements of Design, Implementation, and Assessment. Glaser, J., Wegman, DH., Arias-Monge, E., et al.[2022]

Most Latino farmworkers are aware of heat-related illness (HRI) symptoms and prevention strategies, but many have not received formal training on HRI, indicating a gap in education that could be addressed to improve safety.

Barriers to effective HRI prevention include misconceptions about cooling treatments, preferences for caffeinated drinks over water, and concerns about water quality at work, suggesting that targeted health education and workplace interventions are needed.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Identification of barriers to the prevention and treatment of heat-related illness in Latino farmworkers using activity-oriented, participatory rural appraisal focus group methods. Lam, M., Krenz, J., Palmández, P., et al.[2022]

Hazardous waste workers face a high risk of heat stress due to the use of vapor-barrier clothing, which hinders the body's ability to cool itself through evaporation, increasing the likelihood of heat-related illnesses.

Medical surveillance and individualized fitness assessments are crucial for identifying at-risk workers and implementing preventive strategies, such as proper hydration, work scheduling, and cooling equipment, to mitigate heat stress in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Heat stress in hazardous waste workers: evaluation and prevention. Favata, EA., Buckler, G., Gochfeld, M.[2006]

The implementation of a Heat Stress Awareness Program for outdoor workers significantly reduced the frequency of heat-related illnesses, especially among those with multiple risk factors, from 2009 to 2017.

Median workers' compensation costs for heat-related injuries decreased by 50% after the program was introduced, highlighting the program's effectiveness in both health and economic outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outcomes of a Heat Stress Awareness Program on Heat-Related Illness in Municipal Outdoor Workers. McCarthy, RB., Shofer, FS., Green-McKenzie, J.[2020]

Hispanic/Latino farmworkers are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses (HRIs) due to cultural factors and acculturative stressors, which affect their health and safety behaviors.

Interventions aimed at reducing HRIs in this population must consider these cultural factors to be effective, as they significantly influence the workers' risk and response to heat exposure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cultural Factors, Migrant Status, and Vulnerability to Increasing Temperatures among Hispanic/Latino Farmworkers: A Systematic Review. Berumen-Flucker, B., Kekeh, M., Akpinar-Elci, M.[2022]

A study involving 65 oil spill cleanup responders revealed that many experience heat-related illness (HRI) symptoms due to factors like high temperatures, humidity, and protective gear, highlighting the need for better training and prevention strategies.

Responders expressed a strong preference for modern training methods, such as smartphone apps and online resources, indicating a shift towards more accessible and engaging educational materials to prevent HRI during cleanup activities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Heat-Related Training and Educational Material Needs among Oil Spill Cleanup Responders. Jacklitsch, BL., King, KA., Vidourek, RA., et al.[2020]

A pilot study involving focus groups of Hispanic farmworkers in South Carolina revealed that inexperienced or new workers are perceived to be at the highest risk for heat-related illnesses (HRI).

Farmworkers showed a positive response to training on the OSHA Heat Safety Tool app, indicating that mobile technology could effectively enhance heat safety education and empower supervisors to play a more active role in HRI prevention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"I Think the Temperature was 110 Degrees!": Work Safety Discussions Among Hispanic Farmworkers. Luque, JS., Bossak, BH., Davila, CB., et al.[2021]

Nearly 30% of farmworkers reported experiencing two or more symptoms of heat-related illness (HRI) during their work, highlighting a significant health risk in this population.

Only 21% of farmworkers had a high level of heat knowledge, and many were uncomfortable taking breaks, indicating a need for improved education and training on HRI prevention and management in agricultural settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Heat-related illness among Oregon farmworkers. Bethel, JW., Harger, R.[2023]

The HEAT intervention, which included participatory heat education and a mobile app for supervisors, showed a trend towards reducing physiological heat strain (measured by PSImax) in farmworkers, particularly during high exertion levels, although the results were not statistically significant.

Factors such as older age, higher ambient heat index, and longer walking distances to toilets were associated with increased reporting of heat-related illness symptoms, highlighting the need for comprehensive heat management strategies that consider both education and structural barriers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of the participatory heat education and awareness tools (HEAT) intervention on agricultural worker physiological heat strain: results from a parallel, comparison, group randomized study. Chavez Santos, E., Spector, JT., Egbert, J., et al.[2023]

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Education and Resources for Heat Stress

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Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments

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