Peer-led asthma education for adolescents: impact evaluation

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Health Education
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory disease in adolescents.
• Effective asthma education strategies are crucial for managing the condition in schools.
• Peer-led interventions offer a novel approach to health education in high school settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the Adolescent Asthma Action (Triple A) program, a peer-led educational initiative.
• To assess changes in asthma knowledge, attitudes, and quality of life among adolescent students.
• To determine the effectiveness of peer educators in delivering asthma information within a high school environment.

Main Methods:

• A controlled trial was conducted in two girls' high schools with diverse socioeconomic and linguistic backgrounds.
• The Triple A program involved Year 11 peer leaders educating Year 10 students about asthma.
• Outcomes were assessed via questionnaires, measuring knowledge, attitudes, and quality of life.

Main Results:

• The Triple A program significantly enhanced asthma knowledge for both students with asthma and their peers.
• Knowledge improvements were observed in students directly involved in performances and those in the audience.
• No significant changes were found in asthma-related quality of life, though attitudes were generally favorable.

Conclusions:

• Peer-led asthma education programs are effective in improving adolescent asthma knowledge.
• The Triple A program demonstrated successful implementation and knowledge transfer in a high school setting.
• Further research may explore strategies to enhance the impact on quality of life.