Heat Care: Using cool roofs and heat-literacy education to help rural communities adapt to heat
Official title: Heat Adaptation Through Community-based Approaches and Research at SEACO: Structural and Behavioural Interventions
Run by Monash University Malaysia · NCT06744309 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests if painting roofs white and teaching people about heat can help people in rural Malaysia stay cooler and handle extreme heat better.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 1110 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Monash University Malaysia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Segamat, Johor) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 26, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 2027 |
| Study ends | July 2028 |
| Registry record updated | September 15, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06744309 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults 18 years and older living in single-story brick or brick/wood homes in the SEACO area, willing to participate and use provided devices and educational materials.
✕Probably not a fit
Households with double-story homes or roofs that cannot be painted, or participants unwilling to engage with the interventions, may not see benefits.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Researchers will test two interventions—cool roofs and heat literacy education—in a 2x2 factorial design across five sub-districts in SEACO, Malaysia. Households will be randomly assigned to receive cool roofs, heat literacy education, both, or neither, with data collected at four time points. The study uses wearable devices and indoor temperature measurements to assess changes in heat exposure and behaviors. Eligible adults 18+ in single-story brick or brick-and-wood homes will participate, with informed consent for roof painting and device use. The trial is led by Monash University Malaysia with collaborators from Heidelberg University and Malaysia's Ministry of Health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants could experience lower indoor temperatures and improved ability to cope with extreme heat.
How similar studies have gone: Similar structural and educational approaches have shown promise in reducing indoor heat exposure in other settings, though context-specific results are needed.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Individual Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged at least 18 years old * Willing to participate in all study components * Consent to roof painting and installation of heat and humidity measurement devices * Consent to wear the supplied wearables (Garmin Vivosmart 5) for data collection * No plans to relocate during the study period * Possess a smartphone for receiving health education materials Individual Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals belonging to one household with existing participants * Bedridden individuals or those requiring assistance in movement Household Inclusion Criteria: * Single-story house * Built with brick or brick and wooden * Roof made of zinc, ceramic/clay, or mixed, suitable for cool roof painting * Minimal to no requirement for roof repair * No plans for renovation during the study period Household Exclusion Criteria: * Double-story houses, shops, or empty houses * Houses with the facility to sprinkle water on the roof
Where it's running
-
South East Asia Community Observatory, Monash University Malaysia
Segamat, Johor, Malaysia Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Tin Tin Su, MBBS, Dr.Med — Monash University Malaysia
- Study coordinator: Nurul Arneida, PhD
- Email: nurul.arnieda@monash.edu
- Phone: +60 122744634
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.