Date of Graduation

2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MA

Committee Chair

Christina D. Adams

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine the effect of providing allergen-control bedding encasings on encasing utilization for children with asthma and dust mite allergy. Twenty parents of such children were assigned to an intervention group, which received dust mite proof covers upon recruitment, or a control group, which did not. Two to three months after recruitment, parent report and observational measures were obtained during a home visit. The intervention group used the encasings, but not other dust mite control strategies, significantly more than the control group, based on parent report, not observation. Use of dust mite proof covers was not significantly related to asthma symptoms. Parenting stress, not maternal education or income, was significantly related to encasing utilization. Encasing utilization did not significantly generalize to using other dust mite controls. The most common reason for nonadherence to dust mite controls was cost. Implications of findings are discussed.

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