TY - JOUR 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 AU - Butz AM, Matsui EC, Breysse P, et al Y1 - 2011/08/01 N1 - 10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.111 JO - Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine SP - 741 EP - 748 VL - 165 IS - 8 N2 - 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 SN - 1072-4710 M3 - doi: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.111 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.111 ER -