An investigation of the housing environment for persons with asthma and persons without asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease affected by environmental factors that may increase symptoms that impact on a persons' well-being. An important issue in occupational therapy is to improve the relationship between a person's functional capacity and the physical environment. The aim of the study...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian journal of occupational therapy 2006, Vol.13 (1), p.4-12
Main Authors: Frisk, Margot, Arvidsson, Helena, Kiviloog, Jaak, Ivarsson, Ann-Britt, Kamwendo, Kitty, Stridh, Göran
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of Daily Living
Adolescent
Adult
Air Pollution, Indoor
Arbetsterapi
Asthma
Asthma - epidemiology
Asthma - etiology
Caring sciences
Environment
Environmental aspects
Environmental factors
Facility Design and Construction
Female
Housing
Humans
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS
Male
Middle Aged
Nursing Science w. Occupational Therapy Focus
Occupational therapy
Respiratory diseases
respiratory symptoms
Sweden - epidemiology
TVÄRVETENSKAPLIGA FORSKNINGSOMRÅDEN
Ventilation
Vårdvetenskap
Vårdvetenskap med inriktning arbetsterapi
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Summary:Asthma is a chronic disease affected by environmental factors that may increase symptoms that impact on a persons' well-being. An important issue in occupational therapy is to improve the relationship between a person's functional capacity and the physical environment. The aim of the study was to compare the housing environment of persons with asthma (cases, n = 49) and persons without asthma (controls, n = 48), with regard to building construction and condition, physical, chemical and biological factors, and cleaning routines. A secondary aim was to compare different types of accommodation within cases and controls. A specialist team, including a construction engineer, a biological scientist, and an occupational therapist, conducted the study. Data were collected using protocols, as well as a number of established technical methods from the field of occupational and environmental medicine. The primary results showed no major differences in the housing environment between the two groups. However, in individual homes environmental factors at levels that could increase symptoms were identified. When single-family houses were compared with multi-family houses, significant differences were found indicating that preventive interventions may be needed in some single-family houses. Further studies are needed to clarify the person-environment relationship for persons with asthma, focusing on their ability to perform daily activities.
ISSN:1103-8128
1651-2014
1651-2014
DOI:10.1080/11038120510031824