The purpose of this presentation is to describe a home environmental assessment model and its effectiveness in improving asthma and allergy symptoms. The Home Environmental Assessment List was developed by the Master Home Environmentalist (MHE) Program, American Lung Association of Washington State. The MHE model is a core component of a local asthma prevention partnership. The MHE program involves training volunteers to recognize home environmental health hazards and low cost methods to reduce risks. To evaluate perceived effectiveness of the program, phone intake and follow-up surveys were conducted with families who requested home environmental assessments.
To date, approximately 49 home assessments have been completed. Overall, families reported that home environmental assessments were useful in terms of understanding sources of asthma triggers (household allergens, dust mites, molds, tobacco smoke, animal dander and wood smoke) in their homes. Families were asked if they implemented suggestions made by the volunteer to reduce risks. 75% of families reported making suggested changes. The most common changes made were opening windows daily, changing furnace filters, vacuuming, removing mold, cleaning ducts, using door mats, cleaning refrigerator drip pans, dusting, not allowing smoking indoors, removing carpets, and purchasing pillow and mattress covers. Finally, when asked about health, 75% of the families felt the home environmental assessment improved their child’s asthma. The home environmental assessment model using community volunteers was perceived by families to be an effective way to learn about asthma and allergy triggers as well as low cost methods to mitigate the problems in their homes.
Learning Objectives: Articulate a model to assist families in reducing home environmental exposures to allergens and asthma triggers. Identify changes implemented by families following home environmental assessments. Describe the perceived health effects of home environmental assessments
Keywords: Asthma, Environmental Health Hazards
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.