Examining the Influence of Heat Stress Prevention Training on the Knowledge and Health-Related Behavior of the Construction Workforce

Abstract

Although several research studies have investigated heat stress prevention in the construction industry, a limited number of studies have examined the efficacy of heat stress training interventions in enhancing heat-related knowledge and the resultant effects on the construction workforce’s heat-related behavior. This study evaluated the impacts of heat stress and heat-related illnesses (HRIs) prevention training on heat-related knowledge and perception improvement of the construction workforce and examined its effect on their health-related behavior based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). A total of 164 participants were trained in 10 training sessions, and assessments were administered before and after training. Learning objectives (LOs) and a total of 18 questions were designed to address the research hypotheses developed based on HBM determinations, which were to (1) learn and perceive susceptibility by understanding heat stress risk factors and heat-related hazards; (2) learn and perceive severity through the awareness of HRIs, their symptoms, and possible outcomes (such as dying from heat stroke); (3) learn and perceive the benefits of taking action, and how easy it is to reduce heat-related hazards (such as by drinking cold water); and (4) learn the heat stress and HRI prevention options and use them to take healthy actions. Statistical analysis, including paired Student’s t-tests, revealed significant improvements in knowledge for Determinations 1, 3, and 4, whereas Determination 2 had no significant change. Overall, there was a substantial increase in heat-related knowledge (p<0.001, effect size=0.635), highlighting the training’s positive impact on the improvement of health-related behavior. A further emphasis on instructing trainees to perceive the severity of heat stress and HRIs is necessary to ensure that training effectively enhances health-related behavior. These findings offer novel insights into the effectiveness of heat stress prevention training in enhancing health-related behavior through improved knowledge and perception.