Awareness of and Compliance with Air Pollution Advisories: A Comparison of Parents of Asthmatics with Other Parents

Abstract

Objectives. To determine parents' awareness of and compliance with air pollution advisories, and to compare the awareness and compliance of parents' of asthmatics to that of other parents. Methods. Responses of 240 parents surveyed at pediatric clinic visits were compared. Results. A total of 88% of parents were aware of air pollution advisories; 71% reduced pollution and 55% restricted children's play “sometimes” because of advisories. However, only 7% complied with more than one third of the advisories issued. More parents of asthmatics reported awareness of alerts (p = 0.002), reducing pollution (p = 0.005), or restricting play “sometimes” in response to advisories (p = 0.007). Conclusions. Most parents report awareness of and some compliance with air pollution advisories. Parents of asthmatics are more aware and somewhat more compliant than other parents.

Keywords:

• asthma
• air pollution
• pediatrics
• environmental health
• ozone alerts