title: Effects of a peer-led asthma self-management program for adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of a peer-led asthma self-management program for adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial comparing a peer-led asthma program (intervention group) and a conventional adult-led asthma program (control group). Each program was implemented at a full-day camp.
  
  
  METHODS
  A city and adjacent suburbs in upstate New York.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 112 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years with persistent asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A peer-led asthma self-management program implemented at a day camp.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Child Attitude Toward Illness Scale and the Paediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire were administered at baseline and immediately and 3, 6, and 9 months after the intervention. Spirometry was conducted twice: before and 9 months after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention group reported more positive attitudes at 6 months (mean difference, 4.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-7.56) and higher quality of life at 6 months (difference, 11.38; 95% CI, 0.96-21.79) and 9 months (difference, 12.97; 95% CI, 3.46-22.48) than the control group. The intervention was found to be more beneficial to adolescents of male gender or low family income, as shown by greater improvement in positive attitudes toward asthma and quality of life than their counterparts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An asthma self-management program led by peer leaders is a developmentally appropriate approach that can be effective in assisting adolescents with asthma in improving their attitudes and quality of life, particularly for males and those of low socioeconomic status.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01161225.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester, School of Nursing, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. hyekyun_rhee@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Hyekyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Belyea
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brasch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012646:Self Administration; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013147:Spirometry; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents