Clinical Research Directory

Assessing the Effects of Cool Roofs on Indoor Environments and Health in Colima, Mexico

Ambient air temperatures in Mexico have broken record highs in 2024. Solutions are needed to build heat resilience in communities and adapt to increasing heat from climate change. Sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings may passively reduce indoor temperatures and energy use to protect home occupants from extreme heat. Occupants living in poor housing conditions in the northern zone of Mexico are susceptible to increased heat exposure. Heat exposure can instigate and worsen numerous physical, mental and social health conditions. The worst adverse health effects are experienced in communities that are least able to adapt to heat exposure. By reducing indoor temperatures, cool roof use can promote physical, mental and social wellbeing in household occupants. The long-term research goal of the investigators is to identify viable passive housing adaptation technologies with proven health benefits to reduce the burden of heat stress in communities affected by heat in Mexico. To meet this goal, the investigators will conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial to establish the effects of cool roof use on health, indoor environment and economic outcomes in Colima, Mexico.

Assessing the Effects of Cool Roofs on Indoor Environments and Health

Ambient air temperatures in Asian, Latin American, African, and Pacific climate hotspots have broken record highs in 2024, driven by man-made climate change. Solutions are needed to reduce heat exposure in communities. Sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings passively reduce indoor temperatures and energy use to protect home occupants from extreme heat. Occupants living in poor housing conditions globally - for example in informal settlements, slums, and low-socioeconomic households - are especially vulnerable to increased indoor heat exposure. Heat exposure can instigate and worsen numerous physical, mental and social health conditions. The worst adverse health effects are being experienced in communities least able to adapt to heat exposure. By reducing indoor temperatures, cool roof use can promote physical, mental and social wellbeing in occupants. The long-term research goal is to identify viable passive housing adaptation technologies with proven health and environmental benefits to reduce the burden of heat stress in communities affected by heat globally. To meet this goal, the investigators will conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial to establish the effects of cool roof use on health, indoor environment and economic outcomes in five urban climate hotspots: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Colima, Mexico; Ahmedabad, India; Niue; and Tavua, Fiji.

"Productivity Training and Job Stress Among Nurses"

This study aims to examine the effect of productivity training on nurses' perceived job stress and attitudes toward productivity. It was designed as a randomized controlled experimental study with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design. The experimental group will receive a three-week structured productivity training program, while the control group will not receive any intervention during the same period. Data will be collected using the Personal Information Form, the Nurses' Attitudes Toward Productivity Scale, and the Perceived Job Stress Scale. It is hypothesized that nurses who participate in the productivity training will report lower perceived job stress and higher productivity attitudes compared to those in the control group.

Evaluation of the Impact of a Nutritional Formulation on Cognitive Performance Following Stress Exposure.

The proposed project will evaluate the synergistic effects of a nutritional formulation, 'Think Tank' on cognitive performance following exposure to a psychological and physical stressor. Adopting a double-blind repeated measures cross-over design, middle-aged females (40-60 years) will be recruited to take part in a two-stage research study that will examine whether the formulation enhances cognitive performance and subjective well-being following the challenge of a stressor, compared to placebo. Cognitive assessments will examine the impact of the nutritional formulation on working memory, sustained attention, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control. The study will also assess physiological (heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol) and subjective (well-being, anxiety, positive and negative mood, stress) markers of stress reactivity. The study will also explore levels sleep quality, mental and physical fatigue, effort, productivity, and perceived impact of the intervention.