title: Asthma, tobacco smoke and the indoor environment: a qualitative study of sheltered homeless families.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Asthma is common in homeless children with an incidence of 28-40%. There are few published studies investigating asthma in homeless children. This study examines the perspectives of both caregivers and shelter staff regarding challenges and opportunities of caring for children with asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A focus group of sheltered parents (n = 10) with children who have asthma was conducted to identify barriers to optimal asthma management. Key informant interviews (n = 6) were conducted with shelter staff to discuss the shelter systems and policies to address childhood asthma. Data were audio-recorded and transcribed. A representative analysis team performed qualitative theme analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key themes across 5 domains were identified: asthma education, access to asthma medication and equipment, asthma action plans, structural barriers to asthma management and environmental triggers. Parents identified multiple asthma triggers present in the shelter environment but cited lack of control as a barrier to remediation. Shelter staff desired elimination of asthma triggers but refer to the lack of resources as the primary barrier. Shelter staff favored a smoking ban on shelter property but named challenges to policy implementation. Both parents and staff identified asthma education and increased access to medications would be helpful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Policies to reduce environmental exposures, such as a smoking ban, to asthma triggers has the potential to improve the health of sheltered children with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonary .
authors.forename: MyMy C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Buu
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Janine S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bruce
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Baca
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult; D014026:Nicotiana
chemical_list: D012906:Smoke