ArticleBMC public health2026
Occupational heat strain among home health care workers: a cross-sectional study.
Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundExtreme heat events affect workers' health. Home health care workers face physically strenuous tasks, mobility demands, and increased workloads during heat events. Yet little is known about the extent of heat strain and the specific symptoms they experience. This study aims to examine how home health care workers in Switzerland perceive heat exposure at work and what heat-related symptoms they experience. We examine which factors are associated with perceived heat strain.
methodsWe conducted an anonymous online cross‑sectional survey of home health care workers (N = 359) in north-eastern and Southern Switzerland, two climatically distinct regions. Using items from previous studies on occupational heat strain, we assessed perceived heat strain, heat-related symptoms and a set of independent variables. Differences were tested using Mann-Whitney U and chi‑square tests, followed by ordinal logistic regression to identify associations and regional moderation effects.
resultsSubstantial perceived heat strain was reported by 86% of participants. Higher levels of perceived heat strain were significantly associated with increased workload (OR 14.06, 95% CI 7.12-28.85), heat-related symptoms (OR 5.27, 2.20-12.88), constrained hydration (OR 2.59, 1.35-5.02), working in southern Switzerland (OR 3.98, 2.11-7.61), and seeking cool environments to rest (OR 3.78, 1.55-9.60).
conclusionsHome health care workers reported substantial perceived heat strain at work, particularly when workload increased or hydration was constrained. Regional differences were evident, with stronger heat strain in southern Switzerland. Findings highlight the need to develop heat-protection measures tailored to workplace characteristics-such as workload, constrained hydration, and geographical region-to strengthen climate resilience in this essential and understudied workforce.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.