The role of an educational program in improving the quality of life of asthmatic teenager students in Erbil city: a quasi-experimental study

Background and objective: Asthma is a common respiratory disease that affects people all over the globe. WHO estimates that nearly 300 million people around the globe suffer from asthma. In 2025, experts predict there will be 400 million of them, with a yearly mortality rate of 250,000. The aim of this study is to examine the role of an educational program in improving the quality of life of asthmatic teenager students in Erbil city. Methods: In the school year of 2021-2022, 70 students with asthma aged 12 to 19 years from Erbil city participated in quasi-experimental research. Sydney Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ-S) and the Juniper Asthma Quality of Life (AQLQ-J) were the study instruments used (after modifications) to assess the asthma quality of life. Results: The majority (62.9%) of the students were between the ages of 15 and 17 years. More than half of the sample were females, 82.9% were from urban areas, and the majority were in intermediate school. The results revealed that before the educational program was implemented, 31.4 % of the asthmatic students had a low quality of life, while 68.6 percent had a moderate quality of life. Quality of life and asthma control both showed substantial gains from the educational strategy. Conclusion: An educational intervention implemented in the classroom can significantly improve asthma outcomes, including a decrease in the number and severity of asthma symptoms and an increase in the ability to keep asthma under control. Keywords: Asthma; Educational program; Quality of life; Quasi experimental study.