Centre of Research Excellence in Patient Safety, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 6, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia.
Int J Public Health. 2012 Apr;57(2):297-304. doi: 10.1007/s00038-011-0243-y. Epub 2011 Mar 8.
Heatwaves cause illness and death, and are likely to become more severe and frequent in the future. This study has investigated the awareness, knowledge and practices of health professionals and care providers regarding heatwaves and health of older clients, in order to inform harm minimisation strategies for Victoria, Australia.
An electronic survey of personnel of six health profession and care provider groups that support the health of older people living in the community was conducted in Victoria, Australia, in 2008. Descriptive statistics were derived through quantitative analysis.
Survey respondents showed a high level of awareness that heatwaves can be harmful for older people. Gaps in knowledge were identified regarding thermoregulation, risk factors, heat-related illness, and the use of fans. Few organisations had existing heatwave response plans, and responses to heatwaves were mostly reactive and opportunistic.
Despite a broad level of understanding of the dangers of heatwaves, an opportunistic, reactive approach by health profession and carer personnel, in conjunction with gaps in knowledge, leaves older people in Victoria at risk of preventable harm from extreme hot weather.
热浪会导致疾病和死亡，并且在未来可能会变得更加严重和频繁。本研究旨在了解健康专业人员和护理人员对热浪和老年人健康的认识、知识和实践，以为澳大利亚维多利亚州制定减少伤害的策略。
2008 年，在澳大利亚维多利亚州对支持社区内老年人健康的六类卫生专业人员和护理提供者群体的人员进行了一项电子调查。通过定量分析得出描述性统计数据。
调查受访者表示，他们非常清楚热浪可能对老年人造成危害。在体温调节、危险因素、与热相关的疾病以及风扇的使用等方面，知识存在差距。很少有组织有现有的热浪应对计划，对热浪的反应大多是被动和偶然的。
尽管对热浪的危险有广泛的认识，但健康专业人员和护理人员的机会主义、被动反应，加上知识的差距，使维多利亚州的老年人面临因极端炎热天气而遭受可预防伤害的风险。
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