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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Hendrika Maltby, PhD, RN, Nursing, University of Vermont, Main St, Burlington, VT 05405, 802-656-8305, Hendrika.Maltby@uvm.edu, Ron Rupp, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, 149 State St, Montpelier, VT 05602, Marcia Gustafson, Vermont Department of Health, 108 Cherry ST, Burlington, VT 05401, Laurie Stillman, MM, Asthma Regional Council of New England, The Medical Foundation, 622 Washington Street, 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02124, and Ellen Tohn, ERT Associates & Senior Advisor Asthma Regional Council of New England, 5 Fields Lane, Wayland, MA 01778.

It is estimated that 1 in 20 children are affected by asthma worldwide, and many countries are facing an asthma epidemic. As health care providers struggle to cope with the rapidly increasing numbers of people with asthma, the impact of this chronic illness on families is staggering. Previous research has shown that parents can become exhausted in trying to cope with asthma trigger reduction in the home; this is one area in which they would like help. The goal of this pilot study is to assist parents in rural Vermont reduce asthma exacerbations related to home environmental triggers. Participant families complete an asthma survey, receive a healthy homes evaluation, and equipment that may include HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaners, dehumidifiers, dust mite bed covers, smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, and HEPA air cleaners. Minor renovations to address moisture, mold, or dust issues may be undertaken. Participants are then contacted at two and six months to complete the asthma survey, and a last contact is made at one year to review the changes and complete a final survey. The study is currently finishing the six month and one year contacts and preliminary results are promising, indicating a reduction in asthma exacerbations. Providing the assistance to families to eliminate asthma triggers in the home is a good first step to helping them cope with asthma. This project is part of the ARC New England Healthy Homes Initiative funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Learning Objectives: