Citation

DiGuiseppi CG, Jacobs DE, Phelan KJ, Mickalide AD, Ormandy D. J. Public Health Manag. Pract. 2010; 16(5 Suppl): S34-43.

Affiliation

Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Carolyn.DiGuiseppi@ucdenver.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PHH.0b013e3181e28b10

PMID

20689373

PMCID

PMC2965780

Abstract

Subject matter experts systematically reviewed evidence on the effectiveness of housing interventions that affect safety and injury outcomes, such as falls, fire-related injuries, burns, drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, heat-related deaths, and noise-related harm, associated with structural housing deficiencies. Structural deficiencies were defined as those deficiencies for which a builder, landlord, or home-owner would take responsibility (ie, design, construction, installation, repair, monitoring). Three of the 17 interventions reviewed had sufficient evidence for implementation: installed, working smoke alarms; 4-sided isolation pool fencing; and preset safe hot water temperature. Five interventions needed more field evaluation, 8 needed formative research, and 1 was found to be ineffective. This evidence review shows that housing improvements are likely to help reduce burns and scalds, drowning in pools, and fire-related deaths and injuries.

Language: en