Grantee Research Project Results
2014 Progress Report: From Home to School: Tribal Indoor Air Quality Intervention Study
EPA Grant Number: R835596Title: From Home to School: Tribal Indoor Air Quality Intervention Study
Investigators: Shaughnessy, Richard J , Khan, Sohail
Institution: University of Tulsa , Navajo Nation - EPA and Dept. of Diné Education , Nimiipuu Health , Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals , University of Oklahoma , Cherokee Nation Environmental Program and Health Services
Current Institution: University of Tulsa , Cherokee Nation Environmental Program and Health Services , Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals , Navajo Nation - EPA and Dept. of Diné Education , Nimiipuu Health , University of Oklahoma
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: June 1, 2014 through May 31, 2018
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 2014 through May 31,2015
Project Amount: $919,988
RFA: Science for Sustainable and Healthy Tribes (2013) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Tribal Environmental Health Research , Human Health
Objective:
By improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and reducing environmental asthma triggers this study intends to reduce asthma symptoms related to tribal home-&-school childhood exposures. The study will demonstrate the importance of a total exposure approach based on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). TEK from 3 tribes in different regions/climates will refine education, source control of allergens, and by education on: targeted cleaning and other asthma trigger removal activities, ventilation and air cleaning that reduce asthma triggers.
Research Approach: Observational pre-test/post-test study with matched case-control to determine impact of education on asthma trigger reduction asthma symptom days. The education is based on developing a deeper understanding and respect for the living and non-living interactions in and between school and home environments that is the hallmark of TEK. The attention to both school and home environments will embody a more complete profile of total exposure of the tribal children throughout the day.
Expected Results: The number of days that tribal school children with asthma are absent from school each year are expected to decrease 45% or 2.5 days because of fewer asthma symptom days.
Progress Summary:
Completed Quality Assurance Plan, development of final research protocols, Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications and approvals to The University of Tulsa IRB and the Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board, collection of baseline year school enhanced attendance data, recruitment of Cherokee Nation and Nez Perce study schools, and hiring and training Cherokee Nation and Nez Perce field researchers. These activities set the stage for collection of environmental asthma trigger data in Year 2 of the project.
Future Activities:
The project moves to Phase II data collection in Year 2 of the project. Asthma trigger, absence and health data will be collected in homes and schools during this project year.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 10 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Airborne contaminants, student attendance, cleaning, Q Method, ANCOVA, ATP, adenosine triphosphate, dust sampling, schools, asthma, allergens, Cherokee Nation, Navajo Nation, Nez Perce Tribe, Nimiipuu, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Idaho, EPA Region 6, EPA Region 10.Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.