Respiratory IllnessHIHSNCT00437541
Housing, Insulation and Health Study
A study testing Insulation retrofitted into house in people with Respiratory Illness and Asthma, run by University of Otago at 8 sites in New Zealand.
Trial summary
In six communities we will seek out households where someone who has a history of respiratory problems. For the first winter we will measure temperature and humidity of the house and health of occupants. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Respiratory Illness, Asthma
- What is being tested?
- Insulation retrofitted into house
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- How many people
- 4,000 participants
- Where
- 8 sitesNew Zealand
- Study dates
- Jul 2001to Dec 2002
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Live in Study area
- At least one person in the household must had had respiratory illness within the last year, well members of the same household may also participate
- house currently uninsulated
- interested in taking part in research
Who cannot join
- Intending to move within study period
Trial locations and contacts
8 sites in 1 country.
8 sites in 1 country
New Zealand8 sites
Crown Public Health
Christchurch, Christchurch
Te Iwi O Rakaipaaka
Mahia/Nuhaka, Gisborne
Te Wahine O Kahungungu
Mahia/Nuhaka, Gisborne
Te Puni Kokiri
New Plymouth, Taranaki Region
Opotiki Trade Training
Opotiki, Gisborne
Otara Health Inc
Otara, Auckland
Porirua Housing Action Group
Porirua, Wellington Region
Maori Womans Welfare League
Rata - Hokitika, West Coast
About this study
Official title: The Impact of Insulating Domestic Houses on the Health of Occupants: an Intervention Study
In six communities we will seek out households where someone who has a history of respiratory problems. For the first winter we will measure temperature and humidity of the house and health of occupants. We will insulate half the houses and the next winter compare them with the uninsulated houses to see if warmer houses improve health.
Read the detailed description
Damp, cold indoor environments are bad for the health of people who live in them, particularly if they have respiratory problems or are vulnerable, such as the young or the very old. This is a community based study designed to test the hypothesis that insulating domestic houses will make them warmer and that this increase in indoor temperature will improve their health and wellbeing.
Following two pilot studies, the first among older people in city council flats and the second among home owners in Waitara. We have followed the "Waitara model" where community networks will be mobilised to identify households in each community where there is someone with a on going respiratory problem. Seven communities have been selected to help test these hypotheses and have agreed to participate Otara, Gisborne, Mahia/Nuhaka, Taranaki, Porirua, West Coast and Christchurch. Low income areas with high Maori populations have been deliberately selected to maximise the potential health gains.
Two hundred houses in each community will be insulated free of charge to the occupants. The workers who will insulate the homes will be local people employed through the Department of Work and Income (WINZ).
Once the houesholds are selected they will be randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. During the first winter, all 1400 households will be monitored for temperature and humidity and their comfort, health and healthcare utilization will be recorded. Half the households, assigned to the intervention group, will be fully insulated during the spring. The following winter, all the initial measurements taken from both the intervention and control group will be repeated. At the end of the study period, all control houses will be insulated.
This study has developed from a natural intervention being carried out by the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) to insulate domestic houses in New Zealand and is a major collaborative effort, which will shed light on the effectiveness of insulation in improving health and wellbeing. The impact of housing refurbishment on health has not previously been examined. There is considerable government and policy interest in promoting healthy housing and there is strong community interest in ensuring the housing stock is improved in order to lower health risks.
- Conditions
- Respiratory Illness, Asthma
- Being tested
- Insulation retrofitted into house
- Keywords
- Insulation, Warmth, Humidity, Damp, Cold, Respiratory, Mould
- Medical subject headings
- Asthma, Common Cold
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Insulation retrofitted into houseDevice
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Self reported general health, During the first winter post intervention
Indoor temperature and relative humidity, During the first winter post intervention
Secondary outcomes (5)
Energy consumption, During the first winter post intervention
Wheezing, During the first winter post intervention
Days off school and work, During the first winter post intervention
GP visits, During the first winter post intervention
Inpatient hospital admissions, During the first winter post intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Feb 2007 (estimated)
- Study startJul 2001
- Study completionDec 2002
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Respiratory IllnessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 4,000 participants
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Otago
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Investigators
- Philippa L Howden-Chapman, PhD, Study director, University of OtagoJulian Crane, FRCP, Principal investigator, University of OtagoMichael G Baker, FRACMA, Principal investigator, University of OtagoChris Cunningham, PhD, Principal investigator, Massey UniversityKay Saville-Smith, MA Hons, Principal investigator, CRESANick Waipara, PhD, Principal investigator, Landcare Research LimitedAlistair Woodward, PhD, Principal investigator, University of OtagoDes O'Dea, BSc Hons, Principal investigator, University of Otago
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00437541
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Insulation study
- Other IDs
- 01/06/068
- Acronym
- HIHS
- Status last verified
- Feb 2007
- First submitted
- 20 Feb 2007
- Last updated
- 21 Feb 2007
- Results posted
- No
Publications
Howden-Chapman P, Crane J, Matheson A, Viggers H, Cunningham M, Blakely T, O'Dea D, Cunningham C, Woodward A, Saville-Smith K, Baker M, Waipara N. Retrofitting houses with insulation to reduce health inequalities: aims and methods of a clustered, randomised community-based trial. Soc Sci Med. 2005 Dec;61(12):2600-10. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.04.049. Epub 2005 Aug 2.
PubMed 16061320
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Feb 2007. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Impact of Insulating Domestic Houses on the Health of Occupants: an Intervention Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00437541
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HIHS / Insulation study
- Conditions
- Respiratory Illness, Asthma
- Keywords
- Insulation, Warmth, Humidity, Damp, Cold, Respiratory, Mould
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 4,000 participants
- Lead sponsor
- University of OtagoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jul 2001
- Study completion
- Dec 2002
- First posted
- 21 Feb 2007 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
In six communities we will seek out households where someone who has a history of respiratory problems. For the first winter we will measure temperature and humidity of the house and health of occupants. We will insulate half the houses and the next winter compare them with the uninsulated houses to see if warmer houses improve health.
Detailed description
Damp, cold indoor environments are bad for the health of people who live in them, particularly if they have respiratory problems or are vulnerable, such as the young or the very old. This is a community based study designed to test the hypothesis that insulating domestic houses will make them warmer and that this increase in indoor temperature will improve their health and wellbeing.
Following two pilot studies, the first among older people in city council flats and the second among home owners in Waitara. We have followed the "Waitara model" where community networks will be mobilised to identify households in each community where there is someone with a on going respiratory problem. Seven communities have been selected to help test these hypotheses and have agreed to participate Otara, Gisborne, Mahia/Nuhaka, Taranaki, Porirua, West Coast and Christchurch. Low income areas with high Maori populations have been deliberately selected to maximise the potential health gains.
Two hundred houses in each community will be insulated free of charge to the occupants. The workers who will insulate the homes will be local people employed through the Department of Work and Income (WINZ).
Once the houesholds are selected they will be randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. During the first winter, all 1400 households will be monitored for temperature and humidity and their comfort, health and healthcare utilization will be recorded. Half the households, assigned to the intervention group, will be fully insulated during the spring. The following winter, all the initial measurements taken from both the intervention and control group will be repeated. At the end of the study period, all control houses will be insulated.
This study has developed from a natural intervention being carried out by the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) to insulate domestic houses in New Zealand and is a major collaborative effort, which will shed light on the effectiveness of insulation in improving health and wellbeing. The impact of housing refurbishment on health has not previously been examined. There is considerable government and policy interest in promoting healthy housing and there is strong community interest in ensuring the housing stock is improved in order to lower health risks.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Live in Study area
- At least one person in the household must had had respiratory illness within the last year, well members of the same household may also participate
- house currently uninsulated
- interested in taking part in research
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Intending to move within study period
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Insulation retrofitted into house | Device | – |
Primary outcome
Self reported general health, During the first winter post intervention
Indoor temperature and relative humidity, During the first winter post intervention
5 secondary outcomes
Energy consumption, During the first winter post intervention
Wheezing, During the first winter post intervention
Days off school and work, During the first winter post intervention
GP visits, During the first winter post intervention
Inpatient hospital admissions, During the first winter post intervention
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Feb 2007.
- Results publication: PubMed 16061320Howden-Chapman P, Crane J, Matheson A, Viggers H, Cunningham M, Blakely T, O'Dea D, Cunningham C, Woodward A, Saville-Smith K, Baker M, Waipara N. Retrofitting houses with insulation to reduce health inequalities: aims and methods of a clustered, randomised community-based trial. Soc Sci Med. 2005 Dec;61(12):2600-10. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.04.049. Epub 2005 Aug 2.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Philippa L Howden-Chapman, PhD study director
University of Otago
Julian Crane, FRCP principal investigator
University of Otago
Michael G Baker, FRACMA principal investigator
University of Otago
8 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Insulation retrofitted into house in people with Respiratory Illness and Asthma, run by University of Otago at 8 sites in New Zealand.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Feb 2007. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 8 sites in New Zealand. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Self reported general health, During the first winter post intervention. The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00437541, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Feb 2007.