Extreme heat preparedness and response implementation: a qualitative study of barriers, facilitators, and needs among local health jurisdictions in the United States
Extreme heat events (EHEs) are the deadliest weather hazards in the United States (U.S.). Local health jurisdictions (LHJs) in the U.S. are frontline responders during EHEs and other public health emergencies. This study aims to clarify the factors influencing EHE preparedness and response implement...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Environmental Research: Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5309/adf08b |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849467791497756672 |
|---|---|
| author | Jessica C Kelley Cat Hartwell Evan C Mix Chelsea Gridley-Smith Gregory A Wellenius Amruta Nori-Sarma Jeremy J Hess Nicole A Errett |
| author_facet | Jessica C Kelley Cat Hartwell Evan C Mix Chelsea Gridley-Smith Gregory A Wellenius Amruta Nori-Sarma Jeremy J Hess Nicole A Errett |
| author_sort | Jessica C Kelley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Extreme heat events (EHEs) are the deadliest weather hazards in the United States (U.S.). Local health jurisdictions (LHJs) in the U.S. are frontline responders during EHEs and other public health emergencies. This study aims to clarify the factors influencing EHE preparedness and response implementation. From January to March 2023, we conducted and thematically analyzed four focus group discussions with 17 representatives from U.S. LHJs. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used to guide the discussion. Participants described barriers, facilitators, and needs surrounding extreme heat preparedness and response implementation. The focus group discussions identified four factors that influence EHE preparedness and response implementation: local conditions (environmental, political, planning); engaging communities and tailoring strategies; partnerships and relational connections; and available resources. Focus group discussions emphasized the need for EHE preparedness and response activities to be targeted and scaled to the unique climate, population, and needs of the implementing jurisdiction. Local conditions, community engagement, partnerships, and available resources shape LHJ priorities. The study emphasizes the need for scalable resources and comprehensive plans, and identifies research gaps to be addressed in the future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e90d8a3420fb4dcf8d628a8cb40ddf8b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2752-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research: Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-e90d8a3420fb4dcf8d628a8cb40ddf8b2025-08-20T03:26:04ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research: Health2752-53092025-01-013303100210.1088/2752-5309/adf08bExtreme heat preparedness and response implementation: a qualitative study of barriers, facilitators, and needs among local health jurisdictions in the United StatesJessica C Kelley0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4086-9643Cat Hartwell1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4609-4554Evan C Mix2https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0815-5596Chelsea Gridley-Smith3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1580-9342Gregory A Wellenius4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0427-7376Amruta Nori-Sarma5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2335-6811Jeremy J Hess6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0440-2459Nicole A Errett7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8247-8336Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health , Seattle, WA, United States of AmericaDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health , Seattle, WA, United States of AmericaDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health , Seattle, WA, United States of AmericaNational Association of County and City Health Officials , Washington, DC, United States of AmericaCenter for Climate and Health , Boston, MA, United States of AmericaDepartment of Environmental Health , Boston, MA, United States of America; Center for Climate , Boston, MA, United States of AmericaDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health , Seattle, WA, United States of America; Department of Global Health, University of Washington School of Public Health , Seattle, WA, United States of America; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine , Seattle, WA, United States of AmericaDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health , Seattle, WA, United States of AmericaExtreme heat events (EHEs) are the deadliest weather hazards in the United States (U.S.). Local health jurisdictions (LHJs) in the U.S. are frontline responders during EHEs and other public health emergencies. This study aims to clarify the factors influencing EHE preparedness and response implementation. From January to March 2023, we conducted and thematically analyzed four focus group discussions with 17 representatives from U.S. LHJs. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used to guide the discussion. Participants described barriers, facilitators, and needs surrounding extreme heat preparedness and response implementation. The focus group discussions identified four factors that influence EHE preparedness and response implementation: local conditions (environmental, political, planning); engaging communities and tailoring strategies; partnerships and relational connections; and available resources. Focus group discussions emphasized the need for EHE preparedness and response activities to be targeted and scaled to the unique climate, population, and needs of the implementing jurisdiction. Local conditions, community engagement, partnerships, and available resources shape LHJ priorities. The study emphasizes the need for scalable resources and comprehensive plans, and identifies research gaps to be addressed in the future.https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5309/adf08bextreme heat eventslocal health jurisdictionspublic healthpublic health emergency preparedness |
| spellingShingle | Jessica C Kelley Cat Hartwell Evan C Mix Chelsea Gridley-Smith Gregory A Wellenius Amruta Nori-Sarma Jeremy J Hess Nicole A Errett Extreme heat preparedness and response implementation: a qualitative study of barriers, facilitators, and needs among local health jurisdictions in the United States Environmental Research: Health extreme heat events local health jurisdictions public health public health emergency preparedness |
| title | Extreme heat preparedness and response implementation: a qualitative study of barriers, facilitators, and needs among local health jurisdictions in the United States |
| title_full | Extreme heat preparedness and response implementation: a qualitative study of barriers, facilitators, and needs among local health jurisdictions in the United States |
| title_fullStr | Extreme heat preparedness and response implementation: a qualitative study of barriers, facilitators, and needs among local health jurisdictions in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Extreme heat preparedness and response implementation: a qualitative study of barriers, facilitators, and needs among local health jurisdictions in the United States |
| title_short | Extreme heat preparedness and response implementation: a qualitative study of barriers, facilitators, and needs among local health jurisdictions in the United States |
| title_sort | extreme heat preparedness and response implementation a qualitative study of barriers facilitators and needs among local health jurisdictions in the united states |
| topic | extreme heat events local health jurisdictions public health public health emergency preparedness |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5309/adf08b |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jessicackelley extremeheatpreparednessandresponseimplementationaqualitativestudyofbarriersfacilitatorsandneedsamonglocalhealthjurisdictionsintheunitedstates AT cathartwell extremeheatpreparednessandresponseimplementationaqualitativestudyofbarriersfacilitatorsandneedsamonglocalhealthjurisdictionsintheunitedstates AT evancmix extremeheatpreparednessandresponseimplementationaqualitativestudyofbarriersfacilitatorsandneedsamonglocalhealthjurisdictionsintheunitedstates AT chelseagridleysmith extremeheatpreparednessandresponseimplementationaqualitativestudyofbarriersfacilitatorsandneedsamonglocalhealthjurisdictionsintheunitedstates AT gregoryawellenius extremeheatpreparednessandresponseimplementationaqualitativestudyofbarriersfacilitatorsandneedsamonglocalhealthjurisdictionsintheunitedstates AT amrutanorisarma extremeheatpreparednessandresponseimplementationaqualitativestudyofbarriersfacilitatorsandneedsamonglocalhealthjurisdictionsintheunitedstates AT jeremyjhess extremeheatpreparednessandresponseimplementationaqualitativestudyofbarriersfacilitatorsandneedsamonglocalhealthjurisdictionsintheunitedstates AT nicoleaerrett extremeheatpreparednessandresponseimplementationaqualitativestudyofbarriersfacilitatorsandneedsamonglocalhealthjurisdictionsintheunitedstates |