Educational interventions for healthcare workers addressing heat-related illness: a scoping review protocol
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: Global temperatures are rising rapidly, increasing the frequency and severity of heat exposure and driving substantial increases in heat-related mortality and morbidity worldwide. As well as being central to health system adaptation to these challenges, healthcare workers are themselves at risk of accidents, injuries, and impaired performance in hot conditions. Educational interventions are needed to equip health workers with the knowledge and resources to respond to the changing environment and associated changes in health service delivery.Objective: The aim of this review is to identify and characterize the available evidence on educational interventions for healthcare workers or healthcare students to improve their knowledge or practice related to heat-related illness or reduce their risk of heat-related illness.Inclusion criteria: This scoping review will include evidence that describes or evaluates educational interventions directed at healthcare workers or healthcare students to either improve responses to heat-related illness or reduce their own occupational heat exposure risk. Academic and grey literature which contain primary data or analyses will be included with no restriction on date or language. Abstracts, reviews, commentaries, news and opinion pieces will be excluded.Methods: This review follows the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Searches will be conducted on MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, Global Health, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL Ultimate, and results uploaded to Covidence. Grey literature will be identified through searching Google, and pre-specified intergovernmental, non-governmental, and professional organization websites. Two reviewers will independently screen sources. Data charting will be completed by one reviewer and checked by another. Sources will be analysed to identify the intended audience, content, location, and effectiveness of eligible educational interventions. Reporting will follow the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews recommendations.
Source: Figshare
Author: Ginnane, Joshua
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7160439194