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NCT Number: NCT06842641

Assessing the Effect of Cool Roofs on Health Using Smartwatches in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Ambient air temperatures in Africa, 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- for example in informal settlements, slums, and low-socioeconomic households - 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 application may improve heart health, sleep and physical activity in household occupants.

The long-term research goal is to identify viable passive housing adaptation technologies with proven health benefits to reduce the burden of heat stress in communities affected by heat. To meet this goal, the investigators will use smartwatches to measure the effects cool roof application on heart health, sleep and physical activity in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Ouagadougou Health and Demographic Surveillance System

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Location contact

Bassiahi Abdramane Soura, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Idrissa Ouili, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)

CONTACT

[email protected]

+226 60158080

Idrissa Ouili, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Yacouba Compaore, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Yacouba Compaoré, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)

CONTACT

[email protected]

+226 70562664

About this study

Increasing heat exposure from climate change is causing and exacerbating heat-related illnesses in millions worldwide - particularly in low resource settings. June 2024 was the 13th consecutive hottest month on record globally - shattering previous records. Heat exposure can instigate and worsen numerous health conditions. Adaptation is essential for protecting people from increasing heat exposure. The built environment, especially homes, are ideal for deploying interventions to reduce heat exposure and accelerate adaptation efforts. However, evidence is currently lacking on a global scale - generated through empirical studies - guiding the uptake of interventions to reduce indoor heat stress in low resource settings.

Sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings passively reduce indoor temperatures and lower energy use, offering protection to home occupants from extreme heat. Continuous monitoring of health and wellbeing using smartwatches can provide insight into important parameters such as heart rate, sleep and physical activity - which are all affected by heat. Using smartwatches, the investigators will also continuously measure health and wellbeing outcomes during the day and night. The investigators will conduct a study to investigate the effects of cool-roof use on heart rate, sleep and physical activity in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (sub-Saharan Africa, where people experience a triple burden from heat exposure, chronic health issues and vulnerable housing conditions (slums, informal settlements and low socioeconomic housing).

This trial will quantify whether cool roofs are an effective passive home cooling intervention with beneficial health effects for vulnerable populations in Burkina Faso. Findings will inform global policy responses on scaling cool roof implementation to protect people from increasing heat exposure driven by climate change.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • • Permanent household resident

Exclusion criteria

  • • Roof damage, inaccessible or instability of roof adversely affecting cool roof coating application.
  • Participant unable to provide written/verbal informed consent. Participants will be excluded if they are not willing or able to wear a smartwatch.
  • One participant per household.

Treatment and study plan

Cool roof

Other

Cool roofs are a sunlight reflecting roof coating that can reduce indoor temperature. Cool roofs have high solar reflectance (reflecting the ultraviolet and visible wavelengths of sunlight, reducing heat transfer to the surface of a roof) and high thermal emittance (radiating absorbed solar energy

Primary outcomes

  1. Heart rate

    Time frame: The outcome will be measured at 15-second intervals continuously throughout each 12-month period, with participants wearing the device for at least two weeks per month to capture consistent data points.

    Heart rate in beats per minute measured at 15-second intervals using Garmin Vivosmart 5 devices. Measurements will be taken continuously for 12 months. Participants will be asked to wear their smartwatch for at least two weeks every month.

Secondary outcomes

  1. All-day steps

    Time frame: Measurements will be taken continuously for 12 months. Participants will be asked to wear their smartwatch for at least two weeks every month.

    The number of steps measured daily using Garmin Vivosmart 5 devices.

  2. Distance walked

    Time frame: Measurements will be taken continuously for 12 months. Participants will be asked to wear their smartwatch for at least two weeks every month.

    The total distance walked daily using Garmin Vivosmart 5 devices

  3. Active minutes

    Time frame: Measurements will be taken continuously for 12 months. Participants will be asked to wear their smartwatch for at least two weeks every month.

    The total number of minutes of active exercise daily using Garmin Vivosmart 5 devices.

  4. Moderate-intensity activity minutes

    Time frame: Measurements will be taken continuously for 12 months. Participants will be asked to wear their smartwatch for at least two weeks every month.

    The total number of minutes of moderate-intensity activity daily using Garmin Vivosmart 5 devices.

  5. Vigorous-intensity activity duration

    Time frame: Measurements will be taken continuously for 12 months. Participants will be asked to wear their smartwatch for at least two weeks every month.

    The total number of minutes of vigorous-intensity activity daily using Garmin Vivosmart 5 devices.

  6. Sleep quantity

    Time frame: Measurements will be taken continuously for 12 months. Participants will be asked to wear their smartwatch for at least two weeks every month.

    The number of hours spent asleep each night using Garmin Vivosmart 5 devices.

  7. Time in sleep stages

    Time frame: Measurements will be taken continuously for 12 months. Participants will be asked to wear their smartwatch for at least two weeks every month.

    The number of hours spent in sleep stages each night using Garmin Vivosmart 5 devices.

  8. Awake duration

    Time frame: Measurements will be taken continuously for 12 months. Participants will be asked to wear their smartwatch for at least two weeks every month.

    The number of hours spent awake during sleep time each night using Garmin Vivosmart 5 devices.

  9. Sleep score

    Time frame: Measurements will be taken continuously for 12 months. Participants will be asked to wear their smartwatch for at least two weeks every month.

    The Garmin sleep score (0-100) each night using Garmin Vivosmart 5 devices.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Aditi Bunker, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)

CONTACT

[email protected]

+49 6221 565344

Bassiahi Abdramane Soura, Doctor of Phylosophy (Ph.D)

CONTACT

[email protected]

+226 70 02 62 32

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Population

Other

Collaborators

  • Boston University
  • Cognifit
  • EPS
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Heidelberg University
  • Indian Institute of Public Health, India
  • Labfront
  • London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
  • Pacific Community
  • Resene
  • Rutgers University
  • SOPREMA
  • Secretaría de Educación Pública, México
  • Sika
  • The Tindall Foundation
  • University of Auckland, New Zealand
  • University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Registry information

Official study title

A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (cRCT) Evaluating the Effects of Cool Roofs on Health Outcomes Using Smartwatches in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Acronym: REFLECT

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Feb 24, 2025
Registry last updated
Feb 24, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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