The IPM Educator Pilot Program at Charlestown Development: Preliminary Results

H. Patricia Hynes, BU School of Public Health
Don Rivard, Rivard’s Resources
James McCarthy, BHA

Background and Significance
The Healthy Public Housing Initiative (HPHI) is a five-year (2000-2005) university-city-community intervention research project that tested effects of integrated pest management (IPM) on asthmatic children and their home environment in Boston public housing (1). IPM includes a combination of reduction in pest harborage; allergen reduction through intensive cleaning; education of resident in sanitation, clutter control, and preparation for IPM treatment; monitoring of pests; and use of reduced exposure/less toxic pesticides. The research project results indicate that a comprehensive IPM approach can be successful in reducing exposure to pests and pest allergens, and potentially reducing pesticide use by residents (2). Other recent research on implementing IPM with urban, low-income residents living in multi-family housing indicates success in pest reduction and the potential for cost-effective programs (3, 4).

An important innovation of the HPHI intervention project is the IPM Educator program of training residents in principles and techniques of integrated pest management so they can educate fellow residents in the importance of sanitation, clutter control, and preparation for the IPM contractor application (5). The IPM Educator training is classroom and field-based and ranges from a comprehensive job training program course, with computer and job readiness skills, to short 4-, 8-, and 16-hour courses. One policy outcome of the HPHI is the comprehensive 120-hour course offered in the summer of 2005 by MissionWorks, a job training program.

As a consequence of the HPHI findings, the Charlestown Housing Development maintenance manager undertook a pilot project in 34 highly infested units of the Charlestown Housing Development, located in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, in 2004 to adapt the research intervention model to the routine IPM pest control program of the housing development. Partners include the housing development maintenance manager, an IPM pest control operator, and a resident trained and employed as an IPM Educator. Data were collected before and after the IPM Educator worked with families on change in pest activity, degree of resident participation in the IPM effort, change in sanitation, clutter, and preparation by residents in the pilot program, and resident satisfaction with the IPM program. Boston University provided data analysis for the project

Research Hypotheses
1. Reduction in pest activity will be greater in infested apartments after IPM educator has worked with residents on their role in IPM than before IPM educator worked with residents.
2. Reduction in pest activity will be associated with degree of participation of residents educated by the IPM Educator in sanitation, clutter control, preparation for the IPM treatment.

Research Aims
1. To analyze the IPM pilot data for trends in pest activity, using pre-and post-pilot project data collected.
2. To analyze pilot data for correlation of reduction in pest activity with the following factors: sanitation, clutter control, and preparation for IPM with reduction in pest activity.

Research Plan
Data on pest activity, sanitation conditions, degree of clutter, and frequency of pesticide use were collected from 34 families during a 4-6 month pilot IPM program in 2004 conducted at Charlestown Housing Development. Standard protocols for data collection were modified from the HPHI intervention project. The resident IPM Educator was trained to use them for data collection at each home visit. Data was entered into a spreadsheet by the Charlestown maintenance supervisor as part of his routine IPM program.

We are in the process of analyzing IPM pilot project data collected at the Charlestown Housing Development. Data has been cleaned and checked for quality assurance. Results will be reported statistically and graphically, in the case of the trend analysis, and published. The data collection instruments and IPM Educator home visit protocols will also be reviewed for any modifications that would improve data quality. Home visit protocols will be reviewed and modified in the light of statistical findings so as to assure that correlates of pest activity reduction, such as preparation for IPM treatment or improvements in sanitation, are adequately conveyed to BHA.

Preliminary Results
Preliminary data results indicate that IPM treatment accompanied by IPM education with residents results in a significant decrease in pest activity, whereas IPM treatment alone does not. Factors that appear to contribute to the reduction in pest activity are improved sanitation and preparation for IPM treatment.

The pilot results are being prepared for publication.

References
1. Hynes HP, Brugge D, Osgood N-D, Snell J, Vallarino J, Spengler J, Where does the damp dome from?” Investigations into the indoor environment and respiratory health in Boston public housing, Journal of Public Health Policy, Vol. 24, Nos.3/4, 2003:401-426. Updated version reprinted in Reviews on Environmental Health, Special Issue on Housing and Health, Vol. 19, NOS.3-4, 2004:171-190.

2. See http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hphi/ for conference presentations, papers published and in progress, and other information on the research intervention project, Healthy Public Housing Initiative.

3.Miller DM, Meek F. Cost and efficacy comparison of integrated pest management strategies with monthly spray insecticide applications for German cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) control in public housing. Journal of Economic Entomology. Vol. 97(2), 2004:559-69.

4.Brenner BL, Markowitz S, Rivera M, et al. Integrated pest management in an urban community: A successful partnership for prevention. Environmental Health Perspectives. Vol. 111(13):1649-1653.

5. Vinas B, Vallarino J, Spengler JD. Final report of EPA-funded IPM/Environmental Health Resident Advocate Education Training Program. Grant # MM-98165801-1.