Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

Abstract #155142

• Audio (mp3) recording
• Slides (pdf) or Handout
• Multimedia recording

Lisa Smestad, REHS¹, Laura Oatman, MS², Kay Kufahl, RT³, Jim Yannarelly⁴, Angeline Carlson, PhD⁵, and Eliza Schell, REHS¹. (1) Regulatory Services, City of Minneapolis, 250 S 4th Street, Room 414, Minneapolis, MN 55415, 612-673-2606, eliza.schell@ci.minneapolis.mn.us, (2) Asthma Program, Minnesota Department of Health, 85 East Seventh Place, P. O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882, (3) Pediatric Home Service, 2800 Cleveland Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113, (4) St. Paul-Ramsey County Department of Health, 2785 White Bear Avenue North, Maplewood, MN 55109, (5) Data Intelligence Consultants, PO Box 44993, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Background: Health care providers have not been able to address issues in the home environment affecting asthma control. Objective: To assess the impact of a home assessment and modification program for children with asthma on health service utilization, school absenteeism and health related quality of life. Methods: Children with uncontrolled mild persistent, moderate persistent or severe asthma were referred. An Environmental Asthma Action Plan was written for each home; allergen reducing products were provided; minor repairs and structural modifications were completed if needed. Care management was coordinated with providers; referrals to other government programs were made for qualified families. Number of hospitalizations, emergency room admissions, oral corticosteroid use and school absences due to asthma were collected and a health related quality of life instrument completed for each child at baseline. Follow-up data was collected by phone at 3, 9 and 12 months and during a home visit at 6 months. Results: 421 children received services. Smoking, dust mites, ventilation and pets were common concerns. Average program costs ranged from $468 (products only) to $1068 (products and structural modifications) per home. Hospitalizations, school absences and symptom burden showed statistically significant reductions from baseline (p <0.05). Program costs were offset by savings from reductions in hospitalizations with added benefits of improved school attendance and decreased symptom burden. Conclusion: A home environmental modification program focused on environmental concerns contributing to asthma has a positive influence. The program has filled unmet needs with a service previously lacking in asthma care.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate the procedure for assessing the home environment of children with asthma.
• Recognize common asthma triggers in homes of children with asthma.
• Develop an Environmental Asthma Action Plan for modification of the home environment of children with asthma.

Keywords: Asthma, Child/Adolescent

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Audio (mp3) recording
• Slides (pdf) or Handout
• Multimedia recording