Durham Healthy Breathing in Healthy Homes Project
Condition: Poor Asthma Control
MeSH terms: Respiratory Aspiration
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      To determine if Home-based Environmental Interventions (HEI) that improve home air-quality
      problems can improve asthma outcomes. Participants will benefit through home-based
      environmental interventions that improve home air-quality problems and improve asthma
      outcomes. All participants will receive a Breath Easy at Home Kit, which could help with
      reducing environmental exposures. The primary objective is to assess the feasibility and
      acceptability of the HEI measured by the proportion of families completing intervention
      components and proportion of caregivers expressing satisfaction with intervention components.
      Secondary objective is to explore the efficacy of a HEI on reducing environmental exposures
      measured using personal wristband monitors.

      Exploratory objective is improvements in asthma control following HEI measured using asthma
      control scores and lung function. The fourth objection is to explore correlations between
      demographics, body weight, housing characteristics (smokers, electronic cigarette use, number
      of pets, housing type) with measures of acceptability, satisfaction and improved exposure
      markers.
    

Detailed description: 
      The investigator propses a 23-week prospective, open label, single center, environmental
      remediation intervention study in 5-16 year old children with poor asthma control. At visit
      1, wristbands will be dispensed and collected to estimate exposure to a suite of common
      organic contaminants including phthalates, organophosphate esters, several pesticides and
      polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). During the initial home visit, the Healthy Homes Housing
      Specialist will conduct an environmental home assessment to identify asthma triggers in
      accordance with the EPA's recommendations for helping children with asthma. The Housing
      Specialist will follow the EPA document Home Characteristics and Asthma Triggers, and will
      provide the family with a Breathe Easy at Home Kit. The Specialist will provide training and
      instructions on how to use each of the supplies provided in the kit. If the Housing
      Specialist identifies necessary home repairs during the assessment process, the Housing
      Specialist can refer the family to organizations that offer home repairs, modifications, and
      weatherization services. The specialist will discuss the importance of clean air for
      maintaining lung health for all family members and will discuss the importance of banning of
      any indoor smoking, smoking anywhere around the household and smoking in any household
      automobiles (even when the child is not present). Follow up phone calls will be conducted to
      answer questions, complete questionnaires and complete a household environmental interview.
    

Intervention name(s): Breathe Easy at Home Kit Products
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): HEPA filtered upright vacuum cleaner, HEPA-filtered Air Purifier, Hypoallergenic latex free mattress cover, box spring cover, and two pillow covers, Healthier alternative to most household cleaners, Non- toxic glue type pest control devices for rodent control and a combination of safe products to locate and kill roaches.
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Prevention