The role of public awareness in health-protective behaviours to reduce heat wave risk

Little evidence has been provided on the effects of the programme on public perceptions of heat waves and health behaviours. This study aimed to: (1) evaluate the impact of a heat wave warning system on public awareness of and responses to heat wave risk, (2) identify the factors affecting public awareness of heat wave risk, and (3) investigate whether public awareness of heat wave warnings contributes to increased health-protective behaviours. Using a stratified random sampling design, the residents of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, were surveyed via telephone. Data were collected in two campaigns. The total sample size was 2400 adults. Statistically significant changes were detected in the awareness of heat wave warnings and in the practice of health-protective behaviours. Awareness of heat wave warnings was an important factor in health-protective behaviours to reduce the risk of heat wave (odds ratio (OR), 1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-1.99). This study encourages future investigations of the role of public awareness of heat wave warnings in reducing risk behaviours using better analytical frameworks.