The HOME-Health (HOusing, environMEnt, and Health) Study; Description of a Danish natural experiment, designed as a longitudinal study with repeated measurements, providing internal- and external validity of the study

Charlotte Gabel; Grethe Elholm; Mia Kruse Rasmussen; Thea Hauge Broholt; Stina Rask Jensen; Steffen Petersen; Torben Sigsgaard

doi:10.1177/11786302231181489

The HOME-Health (HOusing, environMEnt, and Health) Study; Description of a Danish natural experiment, designed as a longitudinal study with repeated measurements, providing internal- and external validity of the study

Environ Health Insights. 2023 Jul 12:17:11786302231181489. doi: 10.1177/11786302231181489. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Charlotte Gabel¹, Grethe Elholm¹, Mia Kruse Rasmussen^{2

3

4}, Thea Hauge Broholt³, Stina Rask Jensen^{3

4}, Steffen Petersen³, Torben Sigsgaard¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, section of Environment, Occupation and Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
² Alexandra Institute, Aarhus, Denmark.
³ Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
⁴ AART Architects, Aarhus, Denmark.

Abstract

Background: The ambient and indoor environment are pivotal to our health. We spend most of our time indoors within our home, why our home is where we are most exposed to indoor pollutants and indoor air quality (IAQ). Populations within social housing areas are more vulnerable due to advanced age, co-morbidity and social economic status. Commonly, studies within social housing are cross-sectional, few Nordic longitudinal studies exist, and fewer studies combine quantitative and qualitative measurements in a mixed method approach.

Method: This research proposal provides an extensive detailed description of the design and methodology of the HOME-Health study. The study is a longitudinal study and is a natural experiment employing structured surveys, objective measurements of indoor air parameters, lung function test and qualitative semi-structured interviews. Data collection are conducted seasonally (winter and summer), before and after building energy renovation (BER).

Generalisability: The study population before BER (n = 432) was explored and found similar to the Danish social housing population in terms of age, gender, persons per apartment and migration status. Future analyses should be stratified by multi-family apartments and terraced houses.

Research aim: The aim of the HOME-Health study is to provide knowledge about residents' seasonal state of health, perception of indoor enviromental quality (IEQ), IEQ-related behaviours and practices, and objective measurements of IAQ before and after BER. By applying a design with repeated measurement before and after BER, and combining both objective and subjective quantitative as well as qualitative data the study is expected to create in-depth knowledge. Future results will provide evidence of both energy-savings and non-energy savings from different BER projects. Knowledge which are expected to benefit future renovation projects within social housing areas.

Keywords: Energy renovation; buildings; comfort; general health symptoms; repeated measurements.