Objectives. To determine appropriate components and contents of an online peer support intervention for young adolescents and to evaluate intervention processes, perceived benefits, and satisfaction with the intervention.
Methods. Three months of support were provided through synchronous chat, e-mail exchange, instant messaging, and bulletin boards. Online support group sessions were facilitated by trained peer mentors (older youth/young adults with asthma and allergies) and health professionals. Participant use of online options was tracked (eg, log-ons, e-mails, chat minutes). Qualitative data were elicited from peer mentor reports, online support group chat transcripts, project coordinators’ field notes, peer mentor exit interviews, and adolescent telephone interviews.
Results. Almost all adolescents were satisfied with this online support intervention. Topics discussed in the support groups were pertinent to their educational and support needs. Peer mentors provided emotional, affirmation, and information support. Participants appreciated opportunities for social comparison and reciprocal exchange of support with peers.
Conclusion and implications. A major contribution was documentation of the complex intervention ingredients and processes through qualitative and quantitative methods that elicited diverse stakeholders’ perspectives. This strategy enables adaptation and integration into practice. Adolescents who benefited most felt isolated, suggesting the importance of targeting vulnerable youth for support programs.
TownsSJvan AsperenPP. Diagnosis and management of asthma in adolescents. Clin Respir J. 2009;3:69-76.
2.
BackerV. Management of asthmatic adolescents. Clin Respir J. 2009;3:65-66.
3.
PumphreyRSH. Anaphylaxis: can we tell who is at risk of a fatal reaction?Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;4:285-290.
4.
HenriksenJM. Adolescence asthma and transition. Clin Respir J. 2009;3:67-68.
5.
RohanJDrotarDMcNallyK. Adherence to pediatric asthma treatment in economically disadvantaged African-American children and adolescents: an application of growth curve analysis. J Pediatr Psychol. 2010;35:394-404.
6.
MarklandBAhlstedtSNordstromG. Health-related quality of life among adolescents with allergy-like conditions—with emphasis on food hypersensitivity. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2004;2:65.
7.
HesselPAKlaverJMichaelchukDMcGhanSLCarsonMMMelvinD. The epidemiology of childhood asthma in Red Deer and Medicine Hat, Alberta. Can Respir J. 2001;8:139-146.
8.
MoFRobinsonCChoiBCLiFC. Childhood asthma management and control. Analysis of the student lung health survey database, Canada 1996. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2004;16:29-40.
9.
ToTWangCDellS. Risk factors for repeat adverse asthma events in children after visiting an emergency department. Ambul Pediatr. 2008;8:281-287.
10.
KyngasHRissanenM. Support as a crucial predictor of good compliance of adolescents with a chronic disease. J Clin Nurs. 2001;10:767-774.
11.
StewartM. Chronic Conditions and Caregiving in Canada: Social Support Strategies. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: University of Toronto Press; 2000.
12.
YangTOSylvaKLuntI. Parent support, peer support, and peer acceptance in healthy lifestyle for asthma management among early adolescents. J Spec Pediatr Nurs. 2010;15:272-280.
13.
BruzzeseJBonnerSVincentEJ. Asthma education: the adolescent experience. Patient Educ Couns. 2004;55:396-406.
14.
Velsor-FriedrichBVlassesFMoberleyJCooverJ. Talking with teens about asthma management. J Sch Nurs. 2004;20:140-148.
15.
KyngasHA. Support network of adolescents with chronic disease: adolescents’ perspective. Nurs Health Sci. 2004;6:287-293.
16.
BustonKMWoodSF. Non-compliance amongst adolescents with asthma: listening to what they tell us about self-management. Fam Pract. 2000;17:134-138.
17.
Penza-ClyveSMMansellCMcQuaidEL. Why don’t children take their asthma medications? A qualitative analysis of children’s perspectives on adherence. J Asthma. 2004;41:189-197.
18.
AkesonNWorthASheikhA. The psychosocial impact of anaphylaxis on young people and their parents. Clin Exp Allergy. 2007;37:1213-1220.
19.
UngarWJPatersonJMGomesT. Relationship of asthma management, socioeconomic status, and medication insurance characteristics to exacerbation frequency in children with asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2010;106:17-23.
20.
CohenRFrancoKMotlowFReznikMOzuahPO. Perceptions and attitudes of adolescents with asthma. J Asthma. 2003;40:207-211.
21.
McCarrollEMLindseyEWMacKinnon-LewisCChambersJCFrabuttJM. Health status and peer relationships in early adolescence: the role of peer contact, self-esteem, and social anxiety. J Child Fam Stud. 2009;18:473-485.
22.
PittetIBerchtoldAAkreCMichaudPASurisJC. Are adolescents with chronic conditions particularly at risk of bullying?Arch Dis Child. 2010;95:711-716.
23.
GoldbeckLKoffmaneKLechelerJThiessenKFegertJM. Disease severity, mental health, and quality of life of children and adolescents with asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007;42:15-22.
24.
HerzerMUmfressKAljadeffGGhaiKZakowskiSG. Interactions with parents and friends among chronically ill children: examining social networks. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2009;30:499-508.
25.
BockSAMunoz-FurlongASampsonHA. Fatalities due to anaphylactic reactions to foods. J Allergy Immunol. 2001;107:191-193.
26.
BosleyCMFosburyJACochraneGM. The psychological factors associated with poor compliance with treatment in asthma. Eur Respir J. 1995;8:899-904.
27.
RheeHBelyeaMJCiurzynskiSBraschJ. Barriers to asthma self-management in adolescents: relationships to psychosocial factors. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009;44:183-191.
28.
SampsonMAMunoz-FurlongASichererSH. Risk-taking and coping strategies of adolescents and young adults with food allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;117:1440-1445.
29.
DeanAJWaltersJHallA. A systematic review of interventions to enhance medication adherence in children and adolescents with chronic illness. Arch Dis Child. 2010;95:717-723.
30.
KingGSchultzISteelKGilpinMCathersT. Self-evaluation and self-concept of adolescents with physical disabilities. Am J Occup Ther. 1993;47:132-140.
31.
NollRBBukowskiWMRogoschFALeRoySKulkarniR. Social interactions between children with cancer and their peers: teacher ratings. J Pediatr Psychol. 1990;15:43-56.
32.
ShahSPeatJMazurskiE. Effect of peer led programme for asthma education in adolescents: cluster randomized controlled trial. BMJ. 2001;322:583-587.
33.
StewartMReutterLLetourneauNHunglerK. Support Intervention for Homeless Youth: Final Report. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: Social Support Research Program; 2005.
34.
MurrayEBurnsJSeeTSLaiRNazarethI. Interactive health communication applications for people with chronic disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;(4):CD004274.
35.
LewisD. Computers in patient education. Comput Inform Nurs. 2003;21:88-96.
36.
WhiteMDormanS. Receiving social support online: implications for health education. Health Educ Res. 2001;16:693-707.
37.
BartholomewLKGoldRSParcelGS. Watch, discover, think, and act: evaluation of computer-assisted instructions to improve asthma self-management in inner-city children. Patient Educ Couns. 2000;39:269-280.
38.
ChanDSCallahanCWHatch-PigottVB. Internet-based home monitoring and education of children with asthma is comparable to ideal office-based care: results of a 1-year asthma in-home monitoring trial. Pediatrics. 2007;119:569-578.
GuendelmanSMeadeKBensonMChenYQSamuelsS. Improving asthma outcomes and self-management behaviors of inner-city children: a randomized controlled trial of the Health Buddy interactive device and an asthma diary. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002;156:114-120.
41.
HampelPRudolphHStachowRPetermannF. Multimodal patient education program with stress management for childhood and adolescent asthma. Patient Educ Couns. 2003;49:59-66.
42.
HazzardACelanoMCollinsMMarkovY. Effects of Starbright World on knowledge, social support, and coping in hospitalized children with sickle cell disease and asthma. Child Health Care. 2002;31:69-86.
43.
HomerCSusskindOAlpertHR. An evaluation of an innovative multimedia educational software program for asthma management: report of a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2000;106:210-215.
44.
HussKWinkelsteinMNandaJNaumannPLSloandEDHussRW. Computer game for inner-city children does not improve asthma outcomes. J Pediatr Health Care. 2003;17:72-78.
45.
JosephCLPetersonEHavstadS. A web-based, tailored asthma management program for urban African-American high school students. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007;175:888-895.
46.
MagzamenSPatelBDavisAEdelsteinJTagerIB. Kickin’ Asthma: school-based asthma education in an urban community. J Sch Health. 2008;78:655-665.
47.
McGhanSLWongEJhangriGS. Evaluation of an education program for elementary school children with asthma. J Asthma. 2003;40:523-533.
48.
McPhersonAGlazebrookCForsterDJamesCSmythA. A randomized, controlled trial of an interactive educational computer package for children with asthma. Pediatrics. 2006;117:1046-1054.
49.
NicholasDBWilliamsMMacLuskyIB. Evaluating group work within a summer camp intervention for children and adolescents with asthma. Social Work With Group. 2002;32:209-221.
50.
RungeCLechelerJHornMTewsJTSchaeferM. Outcomes of a web-based patient education program for asthmatic children and adolescents. Chest. 2006;129:581-593.
51.
ShegogRBartholomewLKParcelGSSockriderMMMasseLAbramsonSL. Impact of computer-assisted education program on factors related to asthma self-management behavior. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2001;8:49-61.
52.
van der MeerVStelHFDetmarSBOttenWSterkPJSontJK. Internet-based self-management offers an opportunity to achieve better asthma control in adolescents. Chest. 2007;132:112-119.
53.
van EsSMNagelkerkeAFCollandVTScholtenRJPMBouterLM. An intervention programme using the ASE-model aimed at enhancing adherence in adolescents with asthma. Patient Educ Couns. 2001;44:193-203.
54.
WyattTHHauensteinEJ. Pilot testing okay with asthma: an online asthma intervention for school aged children. J Sch Nurs. 2008;24:145-150.
WatsonWTAGillespieCThomasN. Small-group, interactive education and effect on asthma control by children and their families. CMAJ. 2009;181:257-263.
57.
GottliebBH. Selecting and planning support interventions. In: CohenSUnderwoodLGGottliebBH, eds. Social Support Measurement and Intervention: A Guide for Health and Social Scientists. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2000:195-220.
58.
DenzinNKLincolnYS, eds. The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research. 3rd ed.Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; 2005.
59.
HsiehHFShannonSE. Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qual Health Res. 2005;15:1277-1288.
60.
BanduraA. Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. New York, NY: Freeman; 1997.
61.
BanduraAWaltersRH. Social Learning and Personality Development. New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston; 1963.
62.
ValaitisRSwordW. Online discussions with pregnant and parenting adolescents: perspectives and possibilities. Health Promot Pract. 2005;6:464-471.
63.
DunhamPJHurshmanALitwinEGusellaJEllsworthCDoddPW. Computer-mediated social support: single young mothers as a model system. Am J Community Psychol. 1998;26:281-306.
64.
GustafsonDHHawkinsRMcTavishF. Internet-based interactive support for cancer patients: are integrated systems better?J Commun. 2008;58:238-257.
65.
WengerEMcDermottRSnyderWM. Cultivating Communities of Practice. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press2002.
