Implementing a context-driven awareness programme addressing household air pollution and tobacco: a FRESH AIR study

Brakema, E.A.; Gemert, F.A. van; Williams, S.; Sooronbaev, T.; Emilov, B.; Mademilov, M.; ... ; FRESH AIR Collaborators (2020)

Article / Letter to editor

Most patients with chronic respiratory disease live in low-resource settings, where evidence is scarcest. In Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam, we studied the implementation of a Ugandan programme empowering communities to take action against biomass and tobacco smoke. Together with local stakeholders, we co-created a train-the-trainer implementation design and integrated the programme into existing local health infrastructures. Feasibility and acceptability, evaluated by the modified Conceptual Framework for Implementation Fidelity, were high: we reached similar to 15,000 Kyrgyz and similar to 10,000 Vietnamese citizens within budget (similar to(sic)11,000/country). The right engaged stakeholders, high compatibility with local contexts and flexibility facilitated programme success. Scores on lung health awareness questionnaires increased significantly to an excellent level among all target groups. Behaviour change was moderately successful in Vietnam and highly successful in Kyrgyzstan. We conclude that contextualising the awareness programme to diverse low-resource settings can be feasible, acceptable and effective, and increase its sustainability. This paper provides guidance to translate lung health interventions to new contexts globally.

• All authors: Brakema, E.A.; Gemert, F.A. van; Williams, S.; Sooronbaev, T.; Emilov, B.; Mademilov, M.; Tabyshova, A.; An, P.L.; Quynh, N.N.; Hong, L.H.T.C.; Dang, T.N.; Kleij, R.M.J.J. van der; Chavannes, N.H.; Jong, C. de; FRESH AIR Collaborators
• Date: 2020-10-06
• Journal: npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 1
• DOI: doi:10.1038/s41533-020-00201-z
• Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41533-020-00201-z