Development and Validation of Heat Wave Hazard Adaptation Tool: a Study Protocol

INTRODUCTION: Global warming, climate change, temperature fluctuations, and increasing concern about their possible impacts on health have drawn the attention of scholars and academia around the world. Previous studies suggested heat waves can increase mortality and diseases, the demand for ambulances, hospitalization rates, and severe consequences, especially in vulnerable groups. The most effective measures can be taken by effective planning and providing practical solutions in the mitigation and preparedness stage to prevent and mitigate the effects of disasters. Given the absence of a tool to determine the level of adaptation in the world, this study aimed to identify the strategies to adapt to heat waves and develop a tool to measure the level of adaptation to heat waves. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This exploratory sequential mixed methods (qualitative-quantitative) study was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, a qualitative study was carried out by conducting interviews with people affected by heat waves. The interview data were used to identify the themes related to adaptation to heat waves and the strategies to adapt to heat waves. In the second phase, a systematic review study was conducted to identify the strategies to adapt to heat waves in the world. Afterward, the data from the qualitative phase and systematic review were used to develop the items in the heatwave adaptation tool. Finally, in the third phase (the quantitative study), the psychometric properties of the developed tool were assessed using face validity, content validity, construct validity, and reliability indexes. CONCLUSIONS: The developed tool can measure the level of adaptation behaviors of people against heat waves in different communities. Thus, an awareness of less adaptable and more vulnerable communities can contribute to conducting some mitigation and preparedness interventions in these communities.