Air Purifiers in Classrooms for Infection Control - a Pilot Study

NCT06374316 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2302888
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 6
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the acceptability and feasibility of deploying air purifiers equipped with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters in classrooms, to study air purifiers as an infection control measure. It will also evaluate the direct effect of air purifiers on air quality, comparing ceiling-mounted purifiers, portable purifiers and no purifier.

Conditions

Feasibility; Acceptability

Keywords

Infection Control; Air Purifier; Covid-19; School

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Effectiveness of air purifiers versus no air purifier on improving air quality in classrooms.

  Air quality will be measured using specialized monitors, capturing key indicators such as particulate matter levels. The data collected will enable a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of air purifiers versus no air purifier in improving the overall air quality in educational settings.

  9 weeks

• Effectiveness of ceiling mounted versus portable air purifier on improving air quality in classrooms.

  Air quality will be measured using specialized monitors, capturing key indicators such as particulate matter levels. The data collected will enable a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness between ceiling mounted and portable air purifiers in improving the overall air quality in educational settings.

  9 weeks

• Acceptability of having Air Purifiers in Classrooms

  Acceptability will be assessed through the in-depth qualitative interviews with teachers and students, exploring perceptions and challenges associated with the use of air purifiers.

  6 weeks

• Untoward events when installing air purifiers in classrooms

  Experiences will be collected from the personnel involved in installing the air purifiers

  2 weeks

• Untoward events when running air purifiers in classrooms

  Experiences will be collected from class teachers and students through in-depth qualitative interviews at the beginning (only teachers) and the end (teachers and students) of the study period. Observations and experiences from the study team during the study period will be collected and described.

  9 weeks

• How student absence data can be collected from existing school registration systems.

  Experiences from collecting data from the individual schools or from the municipalities, on absence per week per class based on the existing absence systems, will be described.

  8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Response rate of class teachers to the study surveys.

  6 weeks

• Response rate of students/their guardians to study surveys.

  8 weeks

• Proportion of absence due to respiratory disease.

  8 weeks

• Absence frequency among students

  8 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Ceiling-Mounted Air Purifiers

EXPERIMENTAL

Classrooms in this arm will have ceiling-mounted air purifiers installed. Air quality will be monitored throughout the study period.

Device: Ceiling-Mounted Air Purifiers

Portable Air Purifiers

EXPERIMENTAL

Classrooms in this arm will have portable air purifiers installed. Air quality will be monitored throughout the study period.

Device: Portable Air Purifiers

Both Portable and Ceiling-Mounted Air Purifiers

EXPERIMENTAL

Classrooms in this arms will have both portable and ceiling-mounted air purifiers installed. The rooms will alternate weekly between having no air purifiers on, or only ceiling-mounted air purifier on, or only portable air purifier on. Air quality will be monitored throughout the study period.

Device: Portable or Ceiling Mounted Air Purifiers

Interventions

Ceiling-Mounted Air Purifiers DEVICE

The devices will be turned on every working day except Tuesdays. Air purifiers will be set at levels perceived as acceptable by both teachers and students during operational hours.

Ceiling-Mounted Air Purifiers

Portable Air Purifiers DEVICE

The devices will be turned on every working day except Tuesdays. Air purifiers will be set at levels perceived as acceptable by both teachers and students during operational hours.

Portable Air Purifiers

Portable or Ceiling Mounted Air Purifiers DEVICE

The Ceiling-Mounted and Portable devices will alternate weekly between being activated and deactivated in the three classrooms. Each classroom will also have three weeks with no purifier activated.This alternating pattern aims to assess the impact of the various air purifiers on air quality. Air purifiers will be set at levels perceived as acceptable by both teachers and students during operational hours.

Both Portable and Ceiling-Mounted Air Purifiers

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Having a classroom in the 5th to 7th grade that either has sufficient floor space to accommodate at least two portable air purifiers or has the infrastructure for the installation of a ceiling-mounted air purifier.
• Having at least 15 students in the relevant classroom.
• Having three classrooms at the same floor with sufficient floor space to accommodate at least two portable air purifiers AND with the infrastructure for the installation of a ceiling-mounted air purifier.
• The relevant three classrooms should be slightly comparable with regards to use and air quality. The air quality, as perceived by users, should generally be rated as moderate to poor. which should be medium to poor.
• Having a classroom with installed air purifier through the study as their primary classroom.
• Informed consent from both legal guardians.
• Teaching in the classroom with installed air purifiers at least a few hours per week.
• Providing informed consent.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Norwegian Institute of Public Health: lead
• SINTEF Health Research: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Oslo, Norway

Location

Related Links

• Study Protocol

MeSH Terms

Conditions

COVID-19

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Virus Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: We will select schools for participation in arm 1 and 2, respectively, based on the feasibility of installing ceiling-mounted and placing portable air purifiers in each relevant classroom. In arm 3, all three classrooms will be equipped with both ceiling-mounted and portable air purifiers, as well as indoor air quality sensors. For this arm, we will randomize the three classrooms to each of three weekly programs for the air purifiers; Program 1) Week 1, 4, and 7: Ceiling-mounted ON, Week 2, 5, and 8: No purifier on, Week 3, 6, and 9: Portable ON. Program 2) Week 1, 4, and 7: Portable ON, Week 2, 5, and 8: Ceiling-mounted ON, Week 3, 6, and 9: No purifier on. Program 3) Week 1, 4, and 7: No purifier on Week 2, 5, and 8: Portable ON, Week 3, 6, and 9: Ceiling-mounted ON. Each classroom will be assigned a computer-generated random number and will based on the ascending order of the random numbers be allocated to the three predetermined sequences of programs.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 30, 2024
• First Posted: April 18, 2024
• Study Start: January 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2024
• Study Completion: May 1, 2024
• Last Updated: April 18, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-02

Locations

NO (1)