Impact of an urban healthy homes intervention

In the study described in this article, the authors evaluated the impact of an urban Healthy Homes intervention that included educational home visits. Their one-group, pre-post design used a structured interview at baseline and postintervention. The sample (N = 84) was comprised of low-income children younger than 18 years of age with an asthma diagnosis or with an asthmatic mother. Children were primarily male (62%), < or =10 years old (74%), and lived in a single family home (69%) with moisture (61%). Interventions included a personalized action plan, education, demonstrations, and home remediation as needed. Significant post-intervention decreases occurred in reported asthma symptoms for the child, school days missed, caregiver work days missed, and emergency department/urgent care center visits. Caregiver self-efficacy and quality of life increased significantly. The comprehensive home visitation intervention program effectively impacted asthma symptoms, lost school and work days, emergency use of the health care system, and improved caregiver quality of life and self-efficacy.