title: The effects of a newsletter on bedding control on house dust mite allergen concentrations in childcare centers in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bedding in childcare centers (CCCs) can hold house dust mite (HDM) allergens. This study examined whether HDM allergen levels can be reduced through the distribution of an educational newsletter on bedding control to parents of CCC children in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 38 CCCs were measured for Der 1 (sum of Der f 1 and Der p 1) concentrations on classroom floors and bedding before the intervention. Educational newsletters on children's bedding control were sent to 21 CCCs by mail, and teachers were asked to distribute the newsletters to the parents of the children (intervention group). The remaining 17 CCCs were not sent newsletters (control group). The measurement of Der 1 concentrations in 38 CCCs was repeated after the intervention. Dust samples were collected with a vacuum cleaner and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Der 1 concentrations on the bedding were significantly higher than those on the floors in 38 CCCs at baseline (p<0.05). Although changes of the Der 1 concentrations for the control group (n=17) were not significant, Der 1 concentrations for the intervention group (n=21) decreased significantly from 2077.9 ng/g dust to 963.5 ng/g dust on the floors and from 3683.9 ng/g dust to 610.4 ng/g dust on bedding (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution of educational newsletters on bedding control to parents may be an effective means of controlling HDMs in CCCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea ; Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeonghoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Jang
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Heasuk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Atopy Asthma Center, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Yung
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yum
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seon Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea ; Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chae-Bong
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea ; Atopy Asthma Center, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunjung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Wan Ryung
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea ; Department of Public Health Nutrition, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoosang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Childcare center; Der f 1; Der p 1; Educational newsletter; House dust mite; Intervention