Enhancing ventilation in homes of children with asthma: pragmatic randomised controlled trial

Reference Type Journal Article
Year of Publication
2011
Contributors Author: Louise Woodfine
Author: Richard D. Neal
Author: Nigel Bruce
Author: Rhiannon T. Edwards
Author: Pat Linck
Author: Linda Mullock
Author: Nick Nelhans
Author: Diana Pasterfield
Author: Daphne Russell
Author: Ian Russell
Journal
British Journal of General Practice
Volume
61
Pagination
e724–e732
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ISSN
0960-1643
Publisher
Keywords
Abstract
{Background Few robust studies have tested whether enhancing housing also improves health.Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of installing ventilation systems, and central heating where necessary, in the homes of children with moderate or severe asthma.Design and setting Pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT) in homes within Wrexham County Borough, Wales, UK.Method A pragmatic RCT was carried out, of a tailored package of housing improvements providing adequate ventilation and temperature, following inspection by a housing officer. One hundred and ninety-two children with asthma aged 5 to 14 years, identified from general practice registers, were randomised to receive this package, either immediately or a year after recruitment. At baseline, and after 4 and 12 months, parents reported their child’s asthma-specific and generic quality of life, and days off school.Results The package improved parent-reported asthma-specific quality of life significantly at both 4 and 12 months. At 12 months, this showed an adjusted mean difference between groups of 7.1 points (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.8 to 11.4
URL
https://bjgp.org/content/61/592/e724
DOI
10.3399/bjgp11X606636