Online Support Intervention for Adolescents With Asthma and Allergies: Ingredients and Insights

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 informati...