A motivational interviewing intervention to PREvent PAssive Smoke Exposure (PREPASE) in children with a high risk of asthma: design of a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundEspecially children at risk for asthma are sensitive to the detrimental health effects of passive smoke (PS) exposure, like respiratory complaints and allergic sensitisation. Therefore, effective prevention of PS exposure in this group of vulnerable children is important. Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that an effective intervention program to prevent PS exposure in children is possible by means of a motivational interviewing tailored program with repeated contacts focussing on awareness, knowledge, beliefs (pros/cons), perceived barriers and needs of parents, in combination with feedback about urine cotinine levels of the children. The aim of the PREPASE study is to test the effectiveness of such an intervention program towards eliminating or reducing of PS exposure in children at risk for asthma. This article describes the protocol of the PREPASE study.MethodsThe study is a one-year follow-up randomized controlled trial. Families with children (0–13 years of age) having an asthma predisposition who experience PS exposure at home are randomized into an intervention group receiving an intervention or a control group receiving care as usual. The intervention is given by trained research assistants. The intervention starts one month after a baseline measurement and takes place once per month for an hour during six home based counselling sessions. The primary outcome measure is the percentage of families curtailing PS exposure in children (parental report verified with the urine cotinine concentrations of the children) after 6 months. The secondary outcome measures include: household nicotine level, the child’s lung function, airway inflammation and oxidative stress, presence of wheezing and questionnaires on respiratory symptoms, and quality of life. A process evaluation is included. Most of the measurements take place every 3 months (baseline and after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of study).ConclusionThe PREPASE study incorporates successful elements of previous interventions and may therefore be very promising. If proven effective, the intervention will benefit the health of children at risk for asthma and may also create opportunity to be tested in other population.Trial registration numberNTR2632

A Multifactorial Weight Reduction Programme for Children with Overweight and Asthma: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…In our population we reported a weak association between a marker of the mechanical pathway (ERV% predicted) with BMI-SDS, but no association between a marker of the inflammatory pathway (leptin) with BMI-SDS. In order to avoid the trend in the control group that parents/children look for weight reduction measures, a randomized consent design may be more appropriate for future RCTs on this topic [ 33 ].…”

Meta-analysis of Parental Protection of Children From Tobacco Smoke Exposure

“…Seventy-five full-text articles were read. Forty-five studies were excluded for the following reasons: no relevant outcomes, 18 studies [38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55] ; the trial did not include a control group, 7 studies [56][57][58][59][60][61][62] ; the interventions were not aimed at parents of young children, 3 studies [63][64][65] ; the reporting period was ,1 month, 2 studies 66,67 ; data necessary for analysis were missing, 10 studies [68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77] ; the paper was a review article, 1 study 78 ; the article was a protocol, 2 studies 79,80 ; the article was a follow-up of a previous study, 1 study 81 ; there was no true control group (eg, 2 active interventions were compared), 1 study 82 .…”

Environmental Remediation in the Treatment of Allergy and Asthma: Latest Updates

“…Of the non-smokers, 53.2 % were exposed to second-hand smoke in their homes [51•]. Several intervention trials have targeted tobacco smoke cessation and reduction of second-hand smoke exposure in the home [52, 53, 54•, 55]. However, a Cochrane review found that most intervention studies aimed at reducing children’s ETS exposure were ineffective [56].…”