Indoor Air Quality in Respiratory Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Mixed Methods Observational Study To Determine The Sources and Impact of Indoor Air Pollution in Patients With Chronic Airways Disease
IRAS ID
301897
Contact name
Alice Turner
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The primary objective of our study is to identify the environments and/or locations that Vulnerable Groups (VGs) considered to be important in their exposure to poor air quality indoors. Air pollution causes 29,000 pre-mature death and cost the UK economy £20 billion per year. A majority of these impacts are associated with VGs, who are most strongly affected by air pollution with up to ca.12 life years lost for the individual. People with pre-existing medical conditions, in particular those where the lung is affected, are of particular concern in terms of long-term health, societal & economic impacts.
The CleanAir4V project grant, which this study contributes, aims to build a self-sustaining and interdisciplinary network capable to deliver co-designed research and innovation to develop robust solutions that reduce the impact of air pollution on VGs. This study contributes to the patient centred work-package which aims to understand the sources of poor air quality (AQ) indoors for people with respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
This is a mixed methods study recruiting respiratory patients from within the NHS, and collecting research data remotely/virtually (parts 1 and 2) or in person (part 3). Part 1 will be focus groups conducted using a topic guide, which will inquire about sources, impacts of indoor air pollutants, and about Indoor-Outdoor-Interfaces (IOIs). Part 2 will be a questionnaire, informed by part 1, inquiring about sources and impacts of indoor AQ, especially at IOIs, and the impact of each on respiratory symptoms and overall health. Part 3 will quantify indoor air quality and respiratory symptoms using a daily symptom diary and an air quality monitor installed at key locations identified from parts 1 and 2 over a period of minimum 2 weeks, maximum 6 weeks. A newsletter summarising study results be available to study participants.REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0259
Date of REC Opinion
1 Jun 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion