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Reducing Environmental Triggers of Asthma

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Reducing Environmental Triggers of Asthma (RETA) is a home intervention to control environmental exposures to allergens and irritants that may cause or exacerbate asthma. Families with a child under the age of 18 who has been diagnosed with persistent asthma and is on daily preventative medications are qualified for the program. Families are referred to the program through medical centers, hospitals, clinics, and the Minneapolis Public School District. The program serves primarily minority urban populations living in rental housing in Minneapolis and St. Paul. A respiratory therapist certified in asthma education provides in-home assessment and asthma education. A family-specific intervention including education and appropriate materials is developed following the initial home visit. RETA addresses environmental factors in the home using inexpensive, simple interventions such as HEPA air cleaners, HEPA vacuum cleaners, and pillow and mattress dust encasements.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the Reducing Environmental Triggers of Asthma intervention is to improve asthma control by removing environmental allergens and irritants from the home.

Results / Accomplishments

In a study comparing baseline measurements to a 12-month follow-up, participants with asthma had significant declines in unscheduled office visits (from 1.8 to 0.1 visits/three months, p < 0.05) and use of oral prednisone (from 1.3 to 0.2 therapy regimens, p < 0.05). Hospital visits in the three months preceding the survey also declined (from 0.7 to 0.1 visits) but this change was not significant. The number of school days missed declined significantly from 7 days to less than 1 day (p < 0.05). Participants also had significant improvements in daytime symptom and functional limitation scores. The intervention results in an estimated savings of approximately $1,960 per child through reduced health services expenses.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Minnesota Department of Health Asthma Program
Primary Contact
Asthma Program
Minnesota Department of Health
Golden Rule Bldg.
85 East 7th Place
P.O. Box 64882
Saint Paul, MN 55164-0882
651-201-5000
health.asthma@state.mn.us
http://www.health.state.mn.us/asthma
Topics
Health / Children's Health
Health / Respiratory Diseases
Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants
Organization(s)
Minnesota Department of Health Asthma Program
Date of publication
Sep 2007
Date of implementation
2005
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Minnesota
For more details
http://www.health.state.mn.us/asthma/homes.html
Target Audience
Children, Racial/Ethnic Minorities

Related Promising Practices

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  3. CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Asthma Control: Home-Based Multi-Trigger, Multicomponent Environmental Interventions
  4. Asthma Care Training (ACT) for Kids
  5. Coordinated Asthma Referral and Education (CARE) Program
  6. Asthma: School-Based Self-Management Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Asthma

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Related Content for: Reducing Environmental Triggers of Asthma

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
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