OBJECTIVE:

To determine the effect of a peer led programme for asthma education on quality of life and related morbidity in adolescents with asthma.

DESIGN:

Cluster randomised controlled trial.

SETTING:

Six high schools in rural Australia.

PARTICIPANTS:

272 students with recent wheeze, recruited from a cohort of 1515 students from two school years (mean age 12.5 and 15.5 years); 251 (92.3%) completed the study.

INTERVENTION:

A structured education programme for peers comprising three steps (the "Triple A Program").

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Quality of life, school absenteeism, asthma attacks, and lung function.

RESULTS:

When adjusted for year and sex, mean total quality of life scores showed significant improvement in the intervention than control group. Clinically important improvement in quality of life (>0.5 units) occurred in 25% of students with asthma in the intervention group compared with 12% in the control group (P=0.01). The number needed to treat was 8 (95% confidence interval 4.5 to 35.7). The effect of the intervention was greatest in students in year 10 and in females. Significant improvements occurred in the activities domain (41% v 28%) and in the emotions domain (39% v 19%) in males in the intervention group. School absenteeism significantly decreased in the intervention group only. Asthma attacks at school increased in the control group only.

CONCLUSION:

The triple A programme leads to a clinically relevant improvement in quality of life and related morbidity in students with asthma. Wider dissemination of this programme in schools could play an important part in reducing the burden of asthma in adolescents.