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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

House dust mite control measures for asthma.

BACKGROUND: The major allergen in house dust comes from mites. Chemical, physical and combined methods of reducing mite allergen levels are intended to reduce asthma symptoms in people who are sensitive to house dust mites. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of reducing exposure to house dust mite antigens in the homes of mite-sensitive asthmatics. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Airways Group trials register, checked reference lists of articles and hand-searched Respiration (1980 to 1996) and Clinical and Experimental Allergy (1980 to 1996). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials of mite control measures in asthmatic people known to be sensitive to house dust mites. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers applied the trial inclusion criteria and extracted the data independently. One reviewer applied the trial quality assessment criteria. Study authors were contacted to clarify information. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-three trials were included, with four trials awaiting assessment. There was little difference in improvement of asthma between people in experimental groups compared to control groups (odds ratio 1.2, 95% confidence interval 0.66 to 2.18). Asthma symptom scores were also similar for the experimental and control groups (standardised mean difference -0. 06, 95% confidence interval -0.54 to 0.41). These scores showed a high degree of heterogeneity. No significant difference was noted for medication usage (standardised mean difference -0.14, 95% confidence interval -0.43 to 0.15). Peak flow in the morning showed no significant difference between the experimental and the control groups (standardised mean difference -0.03, 95% confidence interval -0.25 to 0.19). REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Current chemical and physical methods aimed at reducing exposure to house dust mite allergens seem to be ineffective and cannot be recommended as prophylaxis for mite sensitive asthmatics.

Allergens↗
PubMed2005

To house or not to house: the effects of providing housing to homeless substance abusers in treatment.

OBJECTIVES: Housing typically is not provided to homeless persons during drug abuse treatment. We examined how treatment outcomes were affected under 3 different housing provision conditions. METHODS: We studied 196 cocaine-dependent participants who received day treatment and no housing (NH), housing contingent on drug abstinence (ACH), or housing not contingent on abstinence (NACH). Drug use was monitored with urine testing. RESULTS: The ACH group had a higher prevalence of drug abstinence than the NACH group (after control for treatment attendance), which in turn had a higher prevalence than the NH group. All 3 groups showed significant improvement in maintaining employment and housing. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this and previous trials indicate that providing abstinence-contingent housing to homeless substance abusers in treatment is an efficacious, effective, and practical intervention. Programs to provide such housing should be considered in policy initiatives.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Mortality, morbidity, and external injuries in piglets housed in two different housing systems. I. Farrowing house.

An investigation was undertaken to study two different types of farrowing pens, use being made of well characterized veterinary parameters for the well-being of piglets. A housing system with a solid floor and straw-bedding was compared with a partly metal-slatted floor system. The veterinary parameters we used were mortality, morbidity, and external injuries in piglets. There were slight differences in mortality and morbidity rates between the two housing systems. There were big differences with regard to the piglets' 'injury-index' of the two housing systems. The straw system was more favourably. The studies show that observations of external injuries ('Method of Ekesbo') can be used to judge housing systems of piglets in the farrowing house.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Administrative and financial responsibilities for sheltered housing for mentally ill and handicapped persons in Germany and its impact on housing supply.

BACKGROUND: The integration of mentally ill and handicapped persons in the society requires the availability of various forms of sheltered housing in the community, most important ambulatory (supported) housing facilities. In Germany the administrative and financial responsibility for sheltered housing for mental ill and handicapped persons is usually assigned to two authorities: the welfare authorities at Lander (state) level are responsible for hostels, the welfare authorities on community and district level are responsible for ambulatory housing. However some Lander have distributed these responsibilities differently and other Lander offer subsidy programmes to promote the implementation of ambulatory housing. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the different modes of distributing the responsibilities for administration and financing of sheltered housing for their impact on the supply with ambulatory and stationary housing in the 16 German Lander. METHOD: (1) Analysis of the practise of distributing the responsibilities for housing between Lander and community welfare-authorities in the 16 Lander. Analysis of the subsidy programmes in the Lander that aim to promote the implementation of ambulatory housing. (2) Assessment of the capacities in housing for mentally ill and handicapped persons in the Lander. (3) Comparing (1) and (2). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Lander that have the responsibilities for ambulatory housing and for hostels organised on the same authority-level, offer generally more housing in ambulatory facilities and less in hostels than Lander that do not. However, three Lander, despite having all responsibilities for housing at one authority level, provide accommodation for mentally ill and handicapped persons predominantly in hostels. There are so far no indications whether it would be more favourable to have a unique authority for housing based on Lander or on community level. Subsidy programmes to promote the implementation of supported housing are successful if they sponsor at least 50% of costs and if they exist for a considerable duration of time. CONCLUSION: Organising the responsibilities for housing for mental ill and handicapped persons on one authority level and the availability of subsidy programmes have a positive impact on the supply with ambulatory housing. However other factors also have to be considered to influence the supply with ambulatory housing, such as political will, attitudes towards the mentally ill, interests of hostel operators, pre-existing hostel infrastructure, available funds. These factors need to be researched further.

Community Mental Health Services↗
PubMed2000

Pathways to housing: supported housing for street-dwelling homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effectiveness of the Pathways to Housing supported housing program over a five-year period. Unlike most housing programs that offer services in a linear, step-by-step continuum, the Pathways program in New York City provides immediate access to independent scatter-site apartments for individuals with psychiatric disabilities who are homeless and living on the street. Support services are provided by a team that uses a modified assertive community treatment model. METHODS: Housing tenure for the Pathways sample of 242 individuals housed between January 1993 and September 1997 was compared with tenure for a citywide sample of 1, 600 persons who were housed through a linear residential treatment approach during the same period. Survival analyses examined housing tenure and controlled for differences in client characteristics before program entry. RESULTS: After five years, 88 percent of the program's tenants remained housed, whereas only 47 percent of the residents in the city's residential treatment system remained housed. When the analysis controlled for the effects of client characteristics, it showed that the supported housing program achieved better housing tenure than did the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: The Pathways supported housing program provides a model for effectively housing individuals who are homeless and living on the streets. The program's housing retention rate over a five-year period challenges many widely held clinical assumptions about the relationship between the symptoms and the functional ability of an individual. Clients with severe psychiatric disabilities and addictions are capable of obtaining and maintaining independent housing when provided with the opportunity and necessary supports.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effects of substance abuse on housing stability of homeless mentally Ill persons in supported housing.

OBJECTIVE: The study examined two-year housing outcomes of homeless mentally ill clients who took part in an experimental investigation of supported housing. The relationships between housing outcomes and client characteristics, such as gender, psychiatric diagnosis, and substance use, were of primary interest. METHODS: A two-factor, longitudinal design was used. Homeless clients in San Diego County who were diagnosed as having chronic and severe mental illness were randomly assigned to four experimental conditions. Half of the clients were given better access to independent housing through Section 8 rent subsidy certificates. All clients received flexible case management, but half were provided more comprehensive case management services. The housing of each individual over a two-year period was classified in one of three categories: stable independent housing, stable housing in another setting in the community, or unstable housing. RESULTS: Clients with access to Section 8 housing certificates were much more likely to achieve independent housing than clients without access to Section 8 certificates, but no differences emerged across the two different levels of case management. Housing stability was strongly mediated by several covariates, especially the presence of problems with drugs or alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Supported housing interventions can be very successful tools for stabilizing homeless mentally ill individuals in independent community settings. Advantages include the low level of restrictiveness of these settings and the preference of many clients for independent housing. However, the success of supported housing projects is likely to depend strongly on the specific characteristics of the population being served.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Nighttime call in house vs. out of house: a comparison of obstetric procedure rates.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of in-house vs. out-of-house nighttime call coverage on obstetric practice. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis was performed on nighttime deliveries. Included were deliveries by 2 faculty groups that equally shared in-house and out-of-house call coverage. Included patients had an equal chance of delivering with a physician on call covering in house or out of house. Patient demographics and obstetric outcomes were compared between in-house and out-of-house call status for the delivering physician by ANOVA and chi2. RESULTS: Of eligible nighttime deliveries, 230 were identified, 120 with in-house and 110 with out-of-house call coverage. Demographic features were not statistically different between the groups. A comparison of in-house and out-of-house deliveries yielded rates for episiotomy (28.3% vs. 30.0%), cesarean delivery (26.7% vs. 21.8%), operative vaginal delivery (11.7% vs. 18.2%), total operative delivery (38.4% vs. 40.0%) and nonoperative vaginal delivery (61.7% vs. 60.0%) that did not significantly differ by physician call status. CONCLUSION: The nighttime call status of physicians, whether in house or out of house, did not affect cesarean delivery, operative vaginal delivery, overall (total) operative delivery or episiotomy rates.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The Watcombe housing study: the short-term effect of improving housing conditions on the indoor environment.

A three-year study (1999-2001) was initiated in the UK to assess the effect of improving housing conditions in 3-4 bedroom, single-family unit, social rented sector houses on the health of the occupants. The houses were randomised into two groups. Phase I houses received extensive upgrading including wet central heating, on demand ventilation, double-glazed doors, cavity wall and roof/loft insulation. An identical intervention for Phase II houses was delayed for one year. As part of this randomised waiting list study, discrete measurements were made of indoor environmental variables in each house, to assess the short-term effects of improving housing conditions on the indoor environment. Variables representative of indoor environmental conditions were measured in the living room, bedroom and outdoors in each of the three years of the study. In 2000, there was a significant difference between the changes from 1999 to 2000 between Phase I (upgraded) and II (not then upgraded) houses for bedroom temperatures (p=0.002). Changes in wall surface dampness and wall dampness in Phase I houses were also significantly different to the change in Phase II houses in 2000 (p=0.001), but by 2001 the Phase I houses had reverted to the same dampness levels they had before upgrading. The housing upgrades increased bedroom temperatures in all houses. Other indoor environmental variables were not affected.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship between housing conditions and health status of rooming house residents in Toronto.

BACKGROUND: Rooming houses are an important source of housing for low-income Canadians. Little information is available on the relationship between housing conditions and health status in this vulnerable population. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with a representative sample of 295 residents in 171 rooming houses in Toronto. Health status was assessed using the SF-36. The physical attractiveness of each rooming house was rated using the Multiphasic Environmental Assessment Procedure. Associations between the health status of residents and the physical attractiveness and organizational characteristics of rooming houses were examined. RESULTS: Rooming house residents aged 35 years and older had significantly poorer health status than their counterparts in the Canadian general population. Eight of the ten dimensions of individual health status assessed by the SF-36 were significantly correlated with the physical attractiveness of the rooming house in which the individual lived. However, there was no significant association between residents' health status and the rooming house's non-profit status, provision of meals, or the presence of an on-site landlord. CONCLUSIONS: Rooming house residents suffer from a high prevalence of ill health. Residents reporting worst health are concentrated in rooming houses in the poorest physical condition. This relationship may be mediated by selection processes that place the sickest individuals in the lowest-quality rooming houses, and/or by a direct effect of adverse housing conditions on health status. Further research is needed to elucidate these processes and to improve the health of this vulnerable population.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Referral and housing processes in a long-term supported housing program for homeless veterans.

OBJECTIVE: The study examined client characteristics, case management variables, and housing features associated with referral, entry, and short-term success in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national intensive case management and rental assistance program for homeless veterans. METHODS: Information collected from homeless veterans at the time of initial outreach contact and from case managers during the housing search was used to create logistic regression models of referral into the program and successful completion of several stages in the process of obtaining stable independent housing. RESULTS: Overall, only 8 percent of the more than 65,000 eligible veterans contacted by outreach workers were referred to the program. Those referred were more likely to be female, to have more sources of income, to have recently used VA services (including residential treatment), and to have serious mental health problems. Once in the program, 64 percent of veterans eventually moved into an apartment, and 84 percent of those who obtained an apartment were stably housed one year later. In general, activities of case managers, such as accompanying the veteran to the public housing authority and securing additional sources of income, were associated with success in the housing process. The therapeutic alliance, clients' housing preferences, and the quality of housing were unrelated to retention of housing. CONCLUSIONS: This supported housing program was judged appropriate for a small percentage of eligible veterans. However, a large proportion of clients were successful in attaining permanent housing, which lends support to the effectiveness of the supported housing approach.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pair housing induced feeding suppression: individual housing not novelty.

Male rats that are moved from individual to pair housing suppress their feeding for a few days [O'Connor R, Eikelboom R. The effects of changes in housing on feeding and wheel running. Physiol Behav 2000;68:361-371]. The present study explored whether the suppression was a result of the period of individual housing or the novelty of the other animal. Two groups of 16 rats were pair-housed and one group of rats was individually housed for 21 days. The individually housed rats were then pair-housed (IP group) and rats in one of the pair-housed groups were re-housed with novel partners (NP group), while rats in the other pair-housed group remained with the same partner (SP group). Feeding was suppressed only for rats in the IP group, suggesting that the novelty of the partner did not suppress feeding, but rather, the change from individual to pair housing did. Water consumption was also measured, but was unaffected by the re-housing manipulation.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

The clinical effect of environmental control of house dust mites in 60 house dust mite-sensitive dogs.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of benzyl benzoate, an acaricide for the control of house dust mites, in 60 house dust mite-sensitive dogs. All dogs showed positive reactions on intradermal skin testing for house dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) alone, or house dust mites with storage mites (Acarus siro, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Glycophagus domesticus). House dust samples from the owners' houses were collected and sent to the clinic, where the authors performed a test (Acarex test) to semi-quantify the amount of guanine, a house dust mite product. Treatment with benzyl benzoate was repeated until the house dust samples were negative for house dust mite guanine. After treatment, 29 out of 60 house dust mite-sensitive dogs (48%) showed no skin lesions or pruritus. Moderate results were achieved in 22 dogs (36%), with reduced pruritus and minimal skin lesions, but still requiring medication. In 13 dogs, this involved regular treatment (3-4 times a year) with antibiotics and anti-yeast medication, and in eight dogs, immunotherapy was used. One dog was controlled with essential fatty acids as monotherapy and one dog was controlled with immunotherapy and essential fatty acids. In the remaining nine dogs (15%), the pruritus remained the same, and these dogs were controlled with oral corticosteroids. These results indicate that house dust mite elimination is a useful tool in the management of house dust mite-sensitive dogs.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Faecal corticosterone concentrations indicate that separately housed male mice are not more stressed than group housed males.

Mice account for over 80% of all animals used in experimentation. This study investigated how different housing conditions affected stress levels by measuring both corticosterone levels, using non-invasive faecal collection, and behaviour. Sixty outbred MF1 male mice were used which were separated into five different housing conditions at the beginning of the study, (A) individually housed, floor area 490 cm(2) per individual, (B) groups of three mice, floor area 163 cm(2) per individual, (C) groups of three mice, floor area 320 cm(2) per individual, (D) groups of six mice, floor area 160 cm(2) per individual, (E) groups of six mice, floor area 230 cm(2) with extra height per individual to allow visual contact. Mice in all housing conditions were provided with a basic enrichment of paper bedding and a plastic house. The results from this study showed that singly housed mice reduced their corticosterone levels over time after separation reaching a minimum from 14 days onwards. Groups of 6 mice housed together showed no difference over time. Also there was no significant difference in corticosterone levels between the different housing densities, with no differences for aggression or stereotypical behaviour suggesting that there is no ideal group density for this strain and sex of mouse. Providing additional enrichment to the cages caused a significant decrease in corticosterone levels for group housed mice, but individually housed mice remained unaffected by increasing their enrichment level. They spent significantly more time sleeping in the enhanced cage but without any reduction in stereotypical behaviour. For group housed mice, additional enrichment should be mandatory to reduce stress levels and therefore increase their welfare standards, while singly housed mice required only basic levels of enrichment and should be separated from their group for a minimum of 2 weeks before measurements are taken.

Aggression↗
PubMed2005

[The compatibility of housing needs and housing conditions and and its impact on experiencing attachment to a district].

Based on the "complementary-congruence model" of person-environment (p-e) fit, this study focuses on housing in old age as an interaction between housing needs and housing conditions in urban settings. The research aims are: (1) To establish a set of housing-related p-e fit indices based on the relationship between environmental needs and existing conditions in different physical and social domains, and to describe housing among elders aged 51-80 years and in different urban districts with these indices. The study distinguishes between basic, higher-order and social needs relating to housing; (2) To explain outdoor place attachment as an indicator for quality of life in different urban districts with a set of predictors including these person-environment fit indices. Data were drawn from telephone-based interviews with 365 older adults (51-80 years) who were questioned about individual housing needs and housing conditions. Results revealed higher p-e fit scores in the domains of higher-order and social housing needs and conditions in the districts which were considered to be more pleasant but had poor access to the city and to public transportation. In contrast, age was more important in explaining differences in the domain of basic housing needs and conditions with higher p-e fit scores among older participants in all settings. In explaining outdoor place attachment, the fit between basic and social housing needs and conditions was important, but the higher-order fit did not play a role.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1998

Does housing tenure predict health in the UK because it exposes people to different levels of housing related hazards in the home or its surroundings?

In the UK housing tenure (whether the dwelling is owner occupied or rented) has consistently been found to be associated with longevity and with a number of measures of health. It has been argued that it is a good measure of material circumstances, and it is often incorporated into area based measures of social or material deprivation. However there is little published research on whether housing tenure predicts mortality and morbidity simply because it is an indicator of material well being, or whether, in addition, different categories of housing tenure expose people to different levels of health hazards in the dwelling itself or in the immediate environment. In this paper we examine, using data on adults aged 40 and 60 from socially contrasting neighbourhoods in Glasgow, Scotland, whether housing tenure is associated with housing stressors (e.g. overcrowding, dampness, hazards, difficulty with heating the home) and with assessment of the local environment (e.g. amenities, problems, crime, neighbourliness, area reputation and satisfaction), and whether this might help to explain tenure differences in long-standing illness, limiting long-standing illness, anxiety and depression. Controlling for income, age and sex, housing stressors independently predicted limiting long-standing illness; assessment of the area and housing type independently contributed to anxiety; and housing stressors, housing type and assessment of the area independently contributed to depression. This suggests that housing tenure may expose people to different levels of health hazards, and has implications for urban housing policies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Halfway houses for alcoholics: a review, analysis and comparisons with other halfway house facilities.

Eight halfway houses for alcoholics were surveyed and compared to other halfway houses for alcoholics, and halfway houses for the non-alcoholic mentally ill, as described in previous studies. The halfway houses for alcoholics surveyed in the present report may be separated into two principal groups: (a) a self-supporting profit-oriented type with an autonomous owner-operator, and (b) a board-controlled and supported type usually receiving group or institutional support. Regardless of group membership, however, none of the halfway houses for alcoholics in the present study matched the high standards set by halfway houses for the non-alcoholic mentally ill as described in other reports. Recent events indicate that halfway houses will be responsible for an increasing portion of persons requiring a structured, supportive or sheltered environment. This paper examines the ability of halfway houses for alcoholics to provide adequate residential care services. Additionally, disparities between alcoholism and non-alcoholism halfway houses regarding staffing, professionalised orientation, and adjunct services are scrutinised. The effectiveness of halfway houses is analysed, and suggestions for future utilisation of alcoholic halfway houses are advanced.

Alcoholism↗