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dc.contributor.authorScalley, B.
dc.contributor.authorSpicer, T.
dc.contributor.authorJian, Le
dc.contributor.authorXiao, J.
dc.contributor.authorNairn, J.
dc.contributor.authorRobertson, A.
dc.contributor.authorWeeramanthri, T.
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T13:46:14Z
dc.date.available2017-01-30T13:46:14Z
dc.date.created2016-02-01T00:47:07Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.identifier.citationScalley, B. and Spicer, T. and Jian, L. and Xiao, J. and Nairn, J. and Robertson, A. and Weeramanthri, T. 2015. Responding to heatwave intensity: Excess Heat Factor is a superior predictor of health service utilisation and a trigger for heatwave plans. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 39 (6): pp. 582-587.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/34865
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/1753-6405.12421
dc.description.abstract

Objective: To determine which measures of heatwave have the greatest predictive power for increases in health service utilisation in Perth, Western Australia. Methods: Three heatwave formulas were compared, using Poisson or zero-inflated Poisson regression, against the number of presentations to emergency departments from all causes, and the number of inpatient admissions from heat-related causes. The period from July 2006 to June 2013 was included. A series of standardised thresholds were calculated to allow comparison between formulas, in the absence of a gold standard definition of heatwaves. Results: Of the three heatwave formulas, Excess Heat Factor (EHF) produced the most clear dose-response relationship with Emergency Department presentations. The EHF generally predicted periods that resulted in a similar or higher rate of health service utilisation, as compared to the two other formulas, for the thresholds examined. Conclusions: The EHF formula, which considers a period of acclimatisation as well as the maximum and minimum temperature, best predicted periods of greatest health service demand. The strength of the dose-response relationship reinforces the validity of the measure as a predictor of hazardous heatwave intensity. Implications: The findings suggest that the EHF formula is well suited for use as a means of activating heatwave plans and identifies the required level of response to extreme heatwave events as well as moderate heatwave events that produce excess health service demand.

dc.publisherWiley-Blackwell
dc.titleResponding to heatwave intensity: Excess Heat Factor is a superior predictor of health service utilisation and a trigger for heatwave plans
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.issn1326-0200
dcterms.source.titleAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
curtin.departmentSchool of Public Health
curtin.accessStatusOpen access via publisher


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