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The Seattle-King County Healthy Homes Project: A randomized, controlled trial of a community health worker intervention to decrease exposure to indoor asthma triggers

J.W. Krieger, T.K. Takaro, L. Song, M. Weaver
Am J Public Health

Objectives: We assessed the effectiveness of a community health worker intervention focused on reducing exposure to indoor asthma triggers.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial with 1-year follow-up among 274 low-income households containing a child aged 4-12 years who had asthma. Community health workers provided in-home environmental assessments, education, support for behavior change, and resources. Participants were assigned to either a high-intensity group receiving 7 visits and a full set of resources or a low-intensity group receiving a single visit and limited resources.

Results: The high-intensity group improved significantly more than the low-intensity group in its pediatric asthma caregiver quality-of-life score (P=.005) and asthma-related urgent health services use (P=.026). Asthma symptom days declined more in the high-intensity group, although the across-group difference did not reach statistical significance (P=.138). Participant actions to reduce triggers generally increased in the high-intensity group. The projected 4-year net savings per participant among the high-intensity group relative to the low-intensity group were 189-721 dollars.

Conclusions: Community health workers reduced asthma symptom days and urgent health services use while improving caregiver quality-of-life score. Improvement was greater with a higher-intensity intervention.

This article is included in the PCORI Social Needs Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes Evidence Map. Click here to access evidence map.

Krieger JW, Takaro TK, Song L, Weaver M. The Seattle-King County Healthy Homes Project: A randomized, controlled trial of a community health worker intervention to decrease exposure to indoor asthma triggers. Am J Public Health. 2005;95(4):652-659. PMID: 15798126. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2004.042994.

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Publication year
Resource type
Peer Reviewed Research
Outcomes
Health & Health Behaviors
Utilization
Cost
Population
Children and Youth
Social Determinant of Health
Housing Quality
Study design
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Keywords