Randomised controlled trial of thermostatic mixer valves in reducing bath hot tap water temperature in families with young children in social housing

• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2009.175059
• Publication Date: 2010-06-17T01:54:48Z
• Authors: D. Kendrick; J. Stewart; S. Smith; C. Coupland; N. Hopkins; L. Groom; E. Towner; M. Hayes; D. Gibson; J. Ryan; G. O'Donnell; D. Radford; C. Phillips; R. Murphy
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Hot Temperature; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; 11. Sustainability; Humans; Health Education; Family Characteristics; Parenting; Infant, Newborn; Infant; Baths; Consumer Behavior; 6. Clean water; 3. Good health; Socioeconomic Factors; Consumer Product Safety; Child, Preschool; Housing; Female; Sanitary Engineering; Burns; Follow-Up Studies

<h3>Objectives</h3> To assess the effectiveness of thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) in reducing bath hot tap water temperature, acceptability TMVs to families and impact on time safety practices. <h3>Design</h3> Pragmatic parallel arm randomised controlled trial. <h3>Setting</h3> A social housing organisation Glasgow, Scotland, UK. <h3>Participants</h3> 124 with at least one child under 5 years. <h3>Intervention</h3> TMV fitted by a qualified plumber educational leaflets before fitting. <h3>Main outcome measures</h3> Bath temperature 3-month 12-month post-intervention or randomisation, acceptability, problems <h3>Results</h3> Intervention had significantly lower follow-up than control (3 months: intervention median 45.0°C, 56.0°C, difference between medians, −11.0, 95% CI −14.3 −7.7); 12 46.0°C, 55.0°C, medians −9.0, −11.8 −6.2) They were more likely be happy very their (RR 1.43, 1.05 1.93), less report as being too 0.33, 0.16 0.68) checking every 0.84, 0.73 0.97). Seven (15%) reported TMV. <h3>Conclusions</h3> accompanying are effective temperatures short longer term acceptable families. Housing providers should consider fitting properties legislators mandating use refurbishments well new builds.