[Evaluation of a questionnaire on the home environment of asthmatic patients]

Indoor environment outpatient asthmatics plays a major role in modulating asthma severity. Therefore many surveys devoted to studying risk factors for asthma include a questionnaire about housing characteristics. However no such questionnaire has been to date validated. In this study, we tried to validate such a questionnaire by comparing answers of a group of asthmatics outpatient to a questionnaire to de visu finding performed by a field worker during a home visit. Thirty asthmatic patients were included in the study. Housing characteristics were generally correctly acknowledged. Questions on the heating system should be clearly and simply formulated. Energetic supply of stoves and ventilation system is not always known. In the field of house equipment, especially bedding, photographs or drawings can be useful.