Partnership for Asthma Trigger-free Homes (PATH): A Community-Based Participatory Research Study to Reduce Indoor Asthma Triggers in High-Risk Children Living in Memphis, TN

Asthma is a burdensome childhood disease, which disproportionately affects low-income and minority children. While proper management of asthma involves regular clinical management, there are steps that asthmatics and their caregivers can take to reduce common indoor asthma triggers in their homes. These triggers include allergens (such as dust mite, cockroach, pet and rodent); molds; and chemicals. LeMoyne-Owen College, a historically black college with a 145 year tradition of serving the Memphis, TN community, was awarded a congressionally directed medical research grant from the US Army, allowing the college to plan, implement, and analyze the effectiveness of an asthma education program targeted at low-income residents with children living in Memphis. The Partnership for Asthma Trigger-free Homes (PATH) is a pilot study with future application to both military and public housing. The partnership consists of LeMoyne-Owen College and Abt Associates Inc. (a consulting firm based in Cambridge, MA). Community partners from the Memphis Community Health Center and the Memphis Housing Authority were extensively involved in the planning and implementation of the PATH study, as the target population was recruited from these institutions. In this session, we will first review partnership building and the training materials (e.g., education session, data collection instruments). Second, we will highlight the successes and challenges resulting from this community-based participatory research study within a multi-institution framework. Finally, we will present the results of the PATH study and discuss opportunities to expand the research in scope and into other areas, including water use in public housing.