Bridging the gap between heat action plans and practice: a qualitative study on the implementation of heat protection measures in German hospitals

Clicks: 15
ID: 333037
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal
Emerging

Ranked #130 of 152 articles by views in turkish journal of public health

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale. Only the 120 most-read articles are drawn; the journal has 152 in total.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
Abstract Aim To examine the implementation and feasibility of heat protection measures in German hospitals and to assess gaps between recommended heat action plans and routine practice. Subject and methods A qualitative study combined a comparative analysis of four model heat action plans for hospitals and five institution-specific plans with semi-structured expert interviews with hospital representatives responsible for heat protection ( n = 7). Selected literature on the effectiveness of heat protection measures was additionally reviewed to contextualize the qualitative findings. Interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Substantial gaps were identified between recommended measures, their inclusion in institutional plans, and their actual implementation. Existing heat action plans covered technical, organizational, and personal measures but placed greater emphasis on patient protection than employee protection. Across hospitals, implementation was incomplete and often limited to low-threshold interventions. Frequently implemented measures included drinking water provision, ventilation, and adaptation of food supply, whereas resource-intensive technical measures were less common. Major barriers were financial constraints, staff shortages, and limited awareness of heat-related risks. Facilitating factors included internal cooperation, exchange between institutions, and occupational safety regulations. Conclusion The main challenge of hospital heat protection appears to lie less in generating further recommendations than in implementing existing ones. Low-cost organizational measures, such as heat warning communication, hydration strategies, flexible clothing rules, and adapted workflows, may offer feasible starting points for immediate adaptation and should be complemented by long-term investments in climate-resilient infrastructure.
Reference Key
openalex_W7223045268 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Annika Seiffert, Sophie Scheidl, Katharina Buse, Elke Hertig, Claudia Andersch, Irena Kaspar‐Ott
Are you one of these authors? Claim your profile
Journal turkish journal of public health
Year 2026
DOI
10.1007/s10389-026-02917-7
URL
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-026-02917-7
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.