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Review
. 2020 Jan;53(1):3-14.
doi: 10.3961/jpmph.19.326. Epub 2020 Jan 31.

Research Trends in Agenda-setting for Climate Change Adaptation Policy in the Public Health Sector in Korea

Su-Mi Chae  1 , Daeeun Kim  2
Affiliations
Review

Research Trends in Agenda-setting for Climate Change Adaptation Policy in the Public Health Sector in Korea

Su-Mi Chae et al. J Prev Med Public Health. 2020 Jan.

Abstract

Many studies have been conducted to assess the health effects of climate change in Korea. However, there has been a lack of consideration regarding how the results of these studies can be applied to relevant policies. The current study aims to examine research trends at the agenda-setting stage and to review future ways in which health-related adaptation to climate change can be addressed within national public health policy. A systematic review of previous studies of the health effects of climate change in Korea was conducted. Many studies have evaluated the effect of ambient temperature on health. A large number of studies have examined the effects on deaths and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, but a limitation of these studies is that it is difficult to apply their findings to climate change adaptation policy in the health sector. Many infectious disease studies were also identified, but these mainly focused on malaria. Regarding climate change-related factors other than ambient temperature, studies of the health effects of these factors (with the exception of air pollution) are limited. In Korea, it can be concluded that studies conducted as part of the agenda-setting stage are insufficient, both because studies on the health effects of climate change have not ventured beyond defining the problem and because health adaptation to climate change has not been set as an important agenda item. In the future, the sharing and development of relevant databases is necessary. In addition, the priority of agenda items should be determined as part of a government initiative.

Keywords: Climate change; Health policy; Republic of Korea; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors have no conflicts of interest associated with the material presented in this paper.

Figures

Figure. 1.
Figure. 1.
Study selection flow chart for studies of the effects of ambient temperature on death and cardio-cerebrovascular disease. PRISM, policy research database of central and local governments; KEITI: Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute; NKIS, National Knowledge Information System; KHPI, Korea Health Promotion Institute.
Figure. 2.
Figure. 2.
The number of published studies on the effects of ambient temperature on (A) death and (B) cardio-cerebrovascular disease (domain 1) by year.
Figure. 3.
Figure. 3.
The number of published studies on the effects of ambient temperature on the other health outcomes (domain 2) by health outcomes.
Figure. 4.
Figure. 4.
The number of published studies on the health effects of other climate change-related factors (domain 3).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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