Environmental Health Consults in Children Hospitalized with Respiratory Infections

In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of providing in-hospital environmental health consults for parents/guardians of children<  5 years old hospitalized at the Alaska Native Medical Center with respiratory infections or asthma. Environmental health specialists conducted 92 in-hospital consults and mailed Healthy Homes Toolkits to households. Local housing authorities completed low-cost home modifications in 47 eligible h ouseholds. Participants reported changes in household behaviors that were specifically addressed in the consult or included in the Toolkit (e.g. allergen-impermeable pillow covers). Reported respiratory symptoms were decreased at the 6-month follow-up. Over a 2 year period the median overall medica l costs for respiratory illness in study children were $70,500. Children with in-home piped water had half the daily overall medical costs than children without in-home piped water ($74 compared to $144). In this study, we demonstrate that it is feasible to provide environmental consults, mail Toolk its, and arrange home modifications to the homes of children hospitalized with respiratory illness. These findings, along with the high costs of medical care for these children, suggest in-hospital environmental health consults are a cost-effective intervention.
Source: Journal of Community Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research