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A Randomized Trial of Air Cleaners and a Health Coach to Improve Indoor Air Quality for Inner-City Children With Asthma and Secondhand Smoke Exposure Full Text
JAMA Pediatrics, 08/10/2011
Butz AM et al. – Although the use of air cleaners can result in a significant reduction in indoor particulate matter (PM) concentrations and a significant increase in symptom–free days, it is not enough to prevent exposure to secondhand smoke.
Methods- Randomized controlled trial, with randomization embedded in study database.
- The Johns Hopkins Hospital Children's Center and homes of children.
- Children with asthma, residing with a smoker, randomly assigned to interventions consisting of air cleaners only (n = 41), air cleaners plus a health coach (n = 41), or delayed air cleaner (control) (n = 44).
- The overall follow–up rate was high (91.3%). Changes in mean fine and coarse PM (PM2.5 and PM2.5–10) concentrations (baseline to 6 months) were significantly lower in both air cleaner groups compared with the control group.
- The health coach provided no additional reduction in PM concentrations.
- Symptom–free days were significantly increased in both air cleaner groups compared with the control group (P = .03).
