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FRESH: Long-Term Outcomes of a Randomized Trial to Reduce Radon and Tobacco Smoke in the Home
ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 16 — September 12, 2019
PEER REVIEWED
Baseline surveys were distributed to 515 homeowners who participated in the study (257 randomized to treatment group and 258 randomized to control group). Follow-up surveys were completed by 60%, 50%, and 60% of treatment participants at 3, 9, and 15 months, respectively. Of those in the treatment group 219 (85%) completed testing for radon and/or air nicotine at baseline, and approximately half (51%) tested at the end of the study (15-months). In the control group, 64%, 60%, and 63% of participants completed the 3-, 9- and 15-month follow-up surveys, respectively. Thirty-seven percent of control participants tested for radon and/or air nicotine at baseline and almost half (48%) completed testing at the end of the study.
Figure 1.
Flow diagram of enrollment and completion of surveys and testing for the baseline, 3-month, 9-month, and 15-month assessments of the FRESH (Freedom from Radon Exposure and Smoking in the Home) randomized controlled trial to reduce radon and secondhand smoke exposure in the home, Central Kentucky, Jan 2013–August 2017.
Figure 2.
Adjusted means and 95% confidence intervals for the treatment and control groups on stage of action for testing and remediation outcomes for the baseline, 3-month, 9-month, and 15-month assessments of the FRESH (Freedom from Radon Exposure and Smoking in the Home) randomized controlled trial to reduce radon and secondhand smoke exposure in the home, Central Kentucky, January 2013–Aug 2017. Group means from models were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, employment, time living in current residence, smoking in the home, self-efficacy, lung cancer worry, lung cancer risk, synergistic risk, and health related self-concept. Brackets indicate confidence intervals.
| Stage of Action | Treatment, Mean (95% CI) | Control, Mean (95% CI) | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon testing | |||
| Baseline | 2.20 (2.09–2.32) | 2.14 (2.03–2.26) | .46 |
| 3 months | 3.81 (3.67–3.95) | 3.22 (3.07–3.36) | <.001 |
| 9 months | 4.79 (4.55–4.84) | 3.74 (3.60–3.88) | <.001 |
| 15 months | 3.40 (3.26–3.53) | 3.20 (3.07–3.34) | .052 |
| Radon mitigation | |||
| Baseline | 1.57 (1.43–1.70) | 2.01 (1.87–2.16) | <.001 |
| 3 months | 3.83 (3.65–4.01) | 2.98 (2.80–3.15) | <.001 |
| 9 months | 3.75 (3.56–3.94) | 3.09 (2.91–3.27) | <.001 |
| 15 months | 2.17 (1.96–2.35) | 2.30 (2.13–2.47) | .31 |
| Air nicotine testing | |||
| Baseline | 1.64 (1.52–1.76) | 1.80 (1.68–1.92) | .054 |
| 3 months | 3.82 (3.66–3.98) | 2.74 (2.58–2.90) | <.001 |
| 9 months | 4.66 (4.49–4.83) | 3.20 (3.04–3.35) | <.001 |
| 15 months | 3.44 (3.29–3.59) | 2.77 (2.62–2.92) | <.001 |
| Adopting a smoke-free home policy | |||
| Baseline | 2.88 (2.65–3.12) | 3.03 (2.78–3.29) | .41 |
| 3 months | 3.74 (3.44–4.03) | 3.41 (3.09–3.73) | .15 |
| 9 months | 4.08 (3.77–4.39) | 3.74 (3.43–4.06) | .14 |
| 15 months | 3.17 (2.87–3.46) | 3.31 (3.00–3.61) | .52 |
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