Community Action Against Asthma seeks to describe the burden of pediatric asthma on families in Detroit and to identify potentially modifiable environmental risk factors for asthma. Using principles of community-based participatory research, CAAA developed and implemented several strategies for assessing health status and potential home environmental risk factors. First, CAAA's steering committee, composed of members from multiple academic disciplines and community based organizations, designed a child survey, a caregiver survey, and a household walkthrough survey. The child and caregiver surveys, administered separately, assess prevalence of asthma symptoms, effects of asthma on a child's and families activities, and perception of health. The detailed home walk-through assessment focuses on indoor environmental conditions and includes a bedroom dust sample for allergen analysis. Members of the community were hired and trained as interviewers and all surveys were translated into Spanish for Spanish-speaking families. Second, skin prick testing to assess allergy to common asthma triggers among participating children was performed at local community centers using a "health fair" model. Finally, daily symptoms, medication usage, and lung function were assessed over a two-week period. Results of these health and covariate data collection activities assessed at the baseline of this environmental health project will be presented and the process of academic-community collaboration will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Identify key domains of health status affected by asthma and understand the magnitude of asthma morbidity in Detroit children. 2. Identify the indoor asthma triggers that are most prevalent in Detroit homes. 3. Describe the benefits and challenges of an interdisciplinary, community-participatory approach to research design and implementation.
Keywords: Asthma, Community-Based Partnership
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The Airwatch monitor, made by Lifechart.com
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.