RT Journal
A1 Butz AM, Matsui EC, Breysse P, et al
T1 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
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2011
FD August 1
VO 165
IS 8
SP 741
OP 748
DO 10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.111
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.111
AB Objective 
                  To test an air cleaner and health coach intervention to reduce secondhand smoke exposure compared with air cleaners alone or no air cleaners in reducing particulate matter (PM), air nicotine, and urine cotinine concentrations and increasing symptom-free days in children with asthma residing with a smoker.Design 
                  Randomized controlled trial, with randomization embedded in study database.Settings 
                  The Johns Hopkins Hospital Children's Center and homes of children.Participants 
                  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).Main Outcome Measures 
                  Changes in PM, air nicotine, and urine cotinine concentrations and symptom-free days during the 6-month study.Results 
                  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 (mean differences for PM2.5 concentrations: control, 3.5 μg/m3; air cleaner only, −19.9 μg/m3; and air cleaner plus health coach, −16.1 μg/m3; P = .003; and PM2.5-10 concentrations: control, 2.4 μg/m3; air cleaner only, −8.7 μg/m3; and air cleaner plus health coach, −10.6 μg/m3; P = .02). No differences were noted in air nicotine or urine cotinine concentrations. 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).Conclusion 
                  Although the use of air cleaners can result in a significant reduction in indoor PM concentrations and a significant increase in symptom-free days, it is not enough to prevent exposure to secondhand smoke.Trial Registration 
                  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00466024