Self-management Intervention to Improve Adolescents' Asthma Control

Multifaceted Theory-based Self-management Intervention to Improve Adolescents' Asthma Control: A Cluster-randomised Controlled Trial (RCT)

Approximately 1.1 million children and young people in the United Kingdom (UK) are living with asthma, making it the most common chronic disease in children in the UK. Our recent observational study found that poor asthma control, poor medication adherence, and a poor understanding of asthma were key unmet needs of secondary school children. Following the findings from an earlier study, the investigators have developed a preliminary theory-based multi-faceted intervention, aimed at improving asthma self-management and control in young people.

The investigators have developed a theory-driven self-management intervention for children and young people which addresses the barriers to successful self-management, which were identified in an earlier study. The intervention will engage asthmatic teenagers and their peers, and will be delivered in two components. The first component includes a theatre workshop for all children aged 11-13 years in London secondary schools. The aim of this component is to raise awareness of asthma in schools among peers. The second component is a series of four self-management workshops for children with asthma. The aim of this component is to teach children about asthma, using interactive role plays and games. The main topics will include asthma general knowledge and understanding; General Practitioner (GP) communication; asthma triggers and symptoms; medication and emergency response; and self-management techniques and goal setting. The children will also receive a toolkit to take home with them, which will include a copy of the workbook that they have used during the day, containing information on what they have learnt. There will also be information on where they can get more help for their asthma. The toolkit will also include information about a smartphone gaming app, which will be about asthma knowledge.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Doctor-diagnosed asthma
• Aged 11-14 years (UK school years 7-8)
• Attending the secondary school in which the study is implemented
• All children in years 7 and 8 in UK secondary schools are eligible to watch the theatre performance

Exclusion Criteria:

• No diagnosis of asthma
• Not aged 11-14 years (UK school years 7-8)
• Not attending the school at the time the intervention is delivered