Compiled by:
Golibe Ezenwugo, Amy Hookway, Kate Shiells & Alesha Wale; Public Health Wales Evidence Service.
Date Published: 26/07/2024
Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of flooding in the United Kingdom, with Wales being particularly vulnerable. Flooding poses significant short- and long-term challenges to peoples physical and psychological health.
To shape Public Health Wales' future climate change research agenda, two scoping reviews were conducted to explore:
Twenty-four databases and websites, including Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar, were searched for published research and grey literature. Results were screened against predefined inclusion criteria. Selected studies were critically appraised and narratively summarised.
In the first review, seven studies were identified which examined the effectiveness of flood early warning systems on health outcomes such as death, physical injury, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Results were mixed as to whether receipt of a warning had a mitigating effect on the health of people who experienced flooding. However, some research suggested that for those who received a flood warning, the greater the warning time, the lesser the negative health effects. Most studies had methodological flaws, lessening confidence in the findings.
In the second review, three literature reviews and one guideline examining mental health interventions post-flooding were identified, though the quality of these was limited. The reviews suggested that most psychological needs post-flooding can be met through family and friends but that some individuals may need more specialized support, with UKHSA guidance recommending a four-tiered approach for reducing the mental health effects of flooding. No reviews were found that examined interventions for people in areas at risk of flooding.
Both reviews highlight significant gaps in the evidence base, with a lack of high-quality secondary evidence on the effectiveness of interventions for mental health support in areas at risk of flooding or post-flood. Additionally, the effectiveness of flood early warning systems on health outcomes is under-researched.
© 2024 Public Health Wales NHS Trust (June 2024)
Material contained in this document may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Government Licence (OGL) www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-governmentlicence/version/3/ provided it is done so accurately and is not used in a misleading context.
Acknowledgement to Public Health Wales NHS Trust to be stated.
ISBN: 978-1-83766-425-2