RIVM is studying the effect of current heat warnings from the National Heatwave Plan on the perception and behaviour of the target groups. The study is one of the components of the National Heatwave Plan Evaluation by RIVM in 2024 and 2025.
Why is this study important?
Climate change has caused increasingly longer periods of heat in the Netherlands, including the likelihood of extreme heat. Heat can have major health effects. Particularly for people with vulnerable health. But when people take appropriate action in the event of heat, they will limit or prevent damage to their own health or others. In this study, we will investigate the reasons why people do or do not take the recommended action.
What is the approach taken in this study?
The study will consist of a survey and in-depth interviews and will aim at three target groups: healthcare professionals, informal caregivers and people aged 65 years and older. The study can only be conducted after an activation of the National Heatwave Plan. Or, if that is not the case in 2025, in a period of very warm weather. RIVM will then conduct a survey among a sample section of these target groups on whether they actually take the recommended action. We will ask, for example, whether people know what to do and ask their opinion of the recommendations. In addition to the surveys, we conduct in-depth interviews, including with people working in district nursing and elderly care. These interviews provide insight into possible obstacles they encounter when taking the recommended action.
What are the issues to be investigated?
The main issues to be investigated are:
- To what extent the current heat warning from the National Heatwave Plan reaches the intended target groups;
- To what extent the target groups take the recommended action and the factors affecting that action.
When will the results be published?
The results of the study are expected to be published late 2025,. The three other sub-studies of the National Heatwave Plan Evaluation were published in June 2025.