Table 1 Study participant numbers, gender and age
| Â | Participants | Female | Age (years) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | n | % | Range | Mean (SD) |
Focus Groups with chronically ill adolescents | Â | Â | Â | |
Peer support group members | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Metropolitan (3 groups) | 14 | 79 | 15 - 22 |  |
   Regional Victoria (1 group) | 6 | 67 | 14 - 24 |  |
Hospital ward (1 group) | 4 | 50 | 19 | Â |
Total focus group sample | 24 | 71 | 14 - 24 | 18.6 (2.5) |
Pilot testing of the ARQ | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Catholic secondary school students | 330 | 60 | 13 - 16 | 14.3 (0.49) |
Adolescents with a chronic illness | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Hospital Clinics |  |  |  |  |
Asthma | 31 | 58 | 12 - 17 | Â |
Neurology | 4 | 50 | 15 - 17 | Â |
Cystic Fibrosis | 73 | 51 | 11 - 18 | Â |
Rheumatology | 23 | 91 | 12 - 18 | Â |
Adolescent Ward | 13 | 69 | 13 - 18 | Â |
   Support Groups |  |  |  |  |
Diabetes | 7 | 71 | 14 - 16 | Â |
Epilepsy | 13 | 62 | 14 - 17 | Â |
   Peer support group (Non illness specific) | 40 | 58 | 12 - 18 |  |
   Total | 204 | 60 | 11 - 18 | 14.9 (1.8) |
Total pilot testing sample | 534 | 60 | 11 - 18 | 14.5 (1.2) |
Revision of the ARQ | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Random sample secondary schools | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Year seven | 191 | 48 | 11 - 14 | 12.4 (0.5) |
   Year nine | 260 | 51 | 14 - 17 | 14.9 (0.6) |
Total revision sample | 451 | 50 | 11 - 17 | 13.9 (1.4) |