Strengths and Limitations
Study strengths included a high retention
rate, the availability of a comparison group, and
inclusion of vulnerable populations. Because
the work was done in real-world settings, it is
probably generalizable to other weatherization
programs.
This study also has limitations. Blinding of
the study team was not possible. A randomized
controlled design was infeasible because the
way homes are processed through the weatherization
program precludes randomization.
The robust findings of this observational study,
however, support the conclusion that a package
of weatherization-plus-health interventions
and education yield greater improvements in
asthma control. As with all intervention studies,
the placebo effect may account for some of
the findings; however, such placebo effects
may be considered a useful intervention,
yielding health benefits. The small study size
and duration did not permit a formal economic
analysis, but the greater decline in urgent
health care use in the study group, although not
significant, suggests that the intervention has
the potential to generate health cost savings.