Air pollution and behaviour change study

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Assessing the impact of air pollution information and evidence gathered through community-led projects on individuals’ perceptions and behaviour.

  • IRAS ID

    183589

  • Contact name

    Benajamin Barratt

  • Contact email

    benjamin.barratt@kcl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    King's College London

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    N/A, N/A

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 3 months, 17 days

  • Research summary

    It is widely recognised that air pollution is a public health concern accountable for numerous health problems and thousands of premature death. Despite this relatively high public health risk, understanding and awareness of the issue is low in comparison with other public health risks. In order to raise public attention to the air pollution issue and to promote changes in behaviour air pollution must be high up in people’s perceptions and they must be able to “see” air pollution so they can avoid it.
    What is the purpose of the study?
    The aim of this project is to help an Adult Respiratory Care & Rehabilitation (ARCaRe) group to design, implement and interpret their own air quality monitoring project. During this project, one ARCare group (maximum 10 participants) will be able to identify the air pollution they are exposed to. With an ultimate goal of identifying how changes in behaviour are triggered or hindered by taking part in this project.
    What is involved?
    The participants, will have the opportunity to carry air pollution monitors as they go about their normal day. These instruments will be coupled with a GPS watch which will tell us exactly where the participants are when they are breathing the pollution levels the instruments are recording.
    Following the air pollution data gathering we will give the participants a copy of their own results accompanied by a survey for them to fill in, and information regarding ways in which they could reduce their air pollution exposure. The participants will also have the opportunity to share their project findings with other ARCaRe groups. Finally, three months later we will invite the participants for a 20 minutes interview.

  • REC name

    London - Brent Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    15/LO/1691

  • Date of REC Opinion

    25 Sep 2015

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion