This is a pragmatic randomized clinical trial that examines the effectiveness of a clinically informed phone-based environmental intervention for improving asthma control in individuals living in selected Houston Housing Authority public housing communities. This study was initially designed as an in-home intervention but changed to a phone-based intervention, with drop-offs of supplies and other materials, because of the coronavirus pandemic. Both the control and intervention groups complete a comprehensive set of questionnaires by phone (or online or on paper), and wear a passive wristband collection device for seven days that measures exposure to 1,530 chemicals. Each enrollee is randomly assigned into one of the two groups after the baseline questionnaires are completed. The intervention (exposure-reduction) group receives a telehealth visit, a customized Multicomponent Asthma Action Plan, multiple phone-based intervention visits and customized exposure-reduction supplies and materials, delivered to their porch, to implement the plan and support behavior change. The exposure-reduction group is encouraged to provide a blood sample to a local Harris Health laboratory for analysis of allergic and eosinophilic status. The control (phone-call-only) group receives phone follow-up calls. Six months after the baseline assessment, both groups are reassessed at the exit visit. The phone-call-only group receives the exposure-reduction intervention after the exit visit.
The primary purpose of this pragmatic randomized clinical trial is to examine whether the addition of a phone-based multicomponent environmental intervention customized for Houston public housing residents with asthma will result in statistically significant improvements in key measures of health, quality of life, and resilience.