The Effect of Peer Education on Health Promotion Behaviors of Nursing Students in Hamadan University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Practicing health promotion behaviours is one of the best ways to maintain health. Modification of health promoting behaviors is essential for students and peer education can be an effective way. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of peer education on nursing students' health promoting behaviors. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study , 80 nursing and midwifery students were selected by covenience sampling method in 2016-2017. Data gathering tool was Pender Health Promotion Standard Questionnaire. Before education, health promoting behaviors were examined. Then, the first and second semester nursing students were educated in a 4 sessions (each session was 1.5-hour), with lecture and peer education methods, respectively. Two months after education, post-test was done. The data were analyzed using statistical test by SPSS 16 Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the mean score of health promotion behaviors (P=0.29) and their related dimensions including spiritual growth (P=0.776), responsibility (P=0.44), interpersonal relationships (P=0.556), stress management (P=0.238), exercise (P=0.704), and nutrition (P=0.06) before education. However, after education, the mean score of health promotion behaviors and their dimensions in the lecture group had a statistically significant increase compared to that of peer education group (P <0.001). Conclusion: The effectiveness of health promoting behaviors education in lecture group was more than peer group.

Keywords

• health promotion
• health behaviors
• education
• students