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What effect does public health messaging about wildfire smoke have on behaviours and human health outcomes?
Rapid Review
Completed
2025-05-30
2025-02-06
National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools
Dr. Sarah Neil-Sztramko
Adolescents, Adults, Environmental Health, Grade School Aged, Infants, Older Adults, Preschool Aged
The evidence is uncertain as to best practices for public health messaging about wildfire smoke to affect behaviours and human health outcomes.
Neil-Sztramko, S.E., Gentles, S.J., Clark, E., Caldwell, S., Camargo, K., Leung, T., Traynor, R.L., Dobbins, M. (2025, May 30). Rapid Review: What effect does public health messaging about wildfire smoke have on behaviours and human health outcomes? National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools’ Rapid Evidence Service. https://nccmt.ca/pdfs/res/wildfire-messaging
Population: General population exposed in residential environments (both indoor and outdoor), clean air spaces, public/institutional buildings (e.g., schools, daycares, malls, libraries, community centres, healthcare centres, longterm care centres, etc.), vehicles
Intervention: Public messaging issued by public health organizations or governing bodies, including through the media, regarding reducing impact of wildfires smoke; During combustion-derived air pollution episodes that may be caused by fire (wildland, coal mine fires, peat fires, interface fires, landscape fires, agricultural fires, prescribed burns, industrial fires, landfill fires, tire fires, any multi-day structural fires (e.g., 9/11), and residential wood combustion (i.e., wood stoves), including studies that use source attribution methods)
Comparison: Any (e.g., no public health messaging, different messages) or no comparator
Outcome: Any direct or indirect, acute or long-term health outcomes; use of emergency services, emergency room visits, or hospitalizations; behaviour change, and related psychological outcomes (e.g., knowledge, attitudes and intentions)