Long-term effects of a peer-led asthma self-management program for adolescents on peer leaders’ healthcare utilization

Abstract

Background: Asthma affects nearly 3 million adolescents in the US alone. Attaining optimal asthma control in adolescent remains elusive, primarily due to poor disease self-management. Capitalizing on peer dynamics particularly relevant to adolescence, a peer-led asthma self-management program for adolescents (PLASMA) was developed and evaluated in three urban communities in the US. The purpose of this study is to examine the long-term effects of PLASMA on peer leaders’ healthcare utilization. Methods: Peer leaders (ages16-20 years) with physician-diagnosed asthma and nominated by clinicians or teachers for their quality as a leader completed an intense 12 hour training session and delivered a maualized PLASMA program to their adolescent peers at a camp setting. A self-report healthcare utilization form was completed at baseline and every three months after the intervention for 15 months. Generalized linear mixed-effect-model was conducted to test for significant changes in the number of times each type of healthcare service was used over time. Results: Of 42 completed the peer leader training session, 35 implemented the PLASMA program at the camp. We found significant reduction in the numbers of healthcare service use reported over the course of 15 months after the PLASMA program, specifically in asthma-related routine office visits (p=0.01), acute office visits (p Conclusion: PLASMA is a compelling alternative to conventional asthma education led by healthcare professionals, given its demonstrated effects on reducing acute office visits and school absenteeism in peer leaders.