In what ways has the Green Light Program improved health and wellness with the community?

Conference:

SAPC ASM 2018 - London

Talk Code:

P2.67

Presenter:

Vivian R Ramsden

Co-authors:

Shelley Kirychuk, Norma Rabbitskin, Sylvia Abonyi, Lisa Dolovich, James Dosman, Mark Fenton, Holly Graham, Larkin Lamarche, Shirley Bighead, Breanna Davis, Nicole Jacobson, Chandima Karunanayake, Shari McKay, Tara Turner

Author institutions:

University of Saskatchewan, Sturgeon Lake First Nation, McMaster University, First Nations University of Canada

Problem

The aim of the Green Light Program was to increase the number of smoke-free homes in the community and thereby reduce the impact that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has on children and older adults in the community. When ETS is combined with other home-based exposures such as mould, dampness, and crowding, the risks to respiratory health are dramatically increased.

Approach

The overall design of the study was informed by the integration of community-based participatory research and transformative action research. In this method, community involvement is actively sought. This approach facilitates the process of identifying an issue of concern to the community, utilizing the strengths and contributions of that community and its members, and involving all partners equally in the initiative. The assessment included a short-survey asking home-based environmental questions and, whether or not the home was participating in the Green Light Program in addition to collecting data on: the number of individuals living in the home; status regarding non-traditional use of tobacco; smell of mould in the home; visible mold in the home; and, measures of endotoxin, mould and environmental tobacco smoke using identical methods to those employed in another CIHR program.

Findings

Currently, 50 percent of the homes (119/238) are smoke-free. The community is and has been authentically engaged in enhancing their health and well-being. The rest of the data will be analyzed and presented in the poster presentation.

Consequences

It is hoped that the results/findings of the proposed project have the potential to build the next grant(s) in the areas of: a) increasing the number of homes that have implemented the Green Light Program; b) repairing and refurbishing houses from evidence gained through the environmental assessments; c) increasing awareness and management of chronic diseases identified as important by the community; d) increasing engagement and culture in wellness promotion programs; and, e) involving the community in learning skills that could be utilized elsewhere.

Submitted by:

Vivian Ramsden

Funding acknowledgement:

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Catalyst Grant