The effect of peer-to-peer education on health literacy, knowledge, and adherence to COVID-19 protocols in vulnerable adolescents

Abstract

Background The study was done to examine the effectiveness of peer-to-peer education on increasing health literacy, knowledge s, and observance of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) health prevention protocols in vulnerable adolescents. Method The study was a one-group intervention (before and after the intervention) that was performed on 1200 vulnerable adolescents living in varamin. The educational intervention was presented to adolescents in a face-to-face session. In the next step, the adolescents were taught the information received by three members of their families. Data were evaluated using a self-designed questionnaire before, and three months after the intervention. The paired t-test was used to compare scores of health literacy, compliance, and knowledge before and after the intervention at a 0.05 confidence level. The Multiple linear regression model was used to determine the predictive factors of observance of COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Results The most of adolescents were in the age group of 14 to 18 years (60%) and most of them were girls (61.5%). The most important source of information about COVID-19 disease was radio and television (59.6%). The results showed that the effectiveness of the intervention in increasing the adolescents’ health literacy, knowledge, and adherence to preventive behaviors were 40%, 30%, and 23%, respectively. The effectiveness of the intervention in increasing their families’ health literacy and adherence to the protocols were 11% and 20%, respectively (p = 0.001). Discussion Involving volunteer adolescents as health ambassadors and transmitting messages and methods of promoting personal protection against COVID-19 epidemics to family members had a significant effect on increasing the knowledge and adherence to the health procedures.

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“…El 45.8% de los estudiantes consideró que la ayudantía favoreció la obtención de resultados del aprendizaje, lo que apoya la revisión de Sukrajh V en que los beneficios de esta estrategia pueden verse a través de logros de resultados individuales y colectivos 19 . Shoghli et al comentan que la participación de pares permite un aprendizaje más significativo, lo que se relaciona con lo propuesto por Dikmen et al quienes manifiestan que la tutoría por pares promueve la educación práctica clínica y la obtención de competencias procedimentales 20,21 . Una revisión sistemática cualitativa que investigó esta metodo- logía en estudiantes de enfermería concluyó que la ayudantía tiene un efecto positivo en la consecución de los resultados del aprendizaje, pues ayuda a los tutorados a preparase para contextos reales a través del desarrollo de competencias personales y profesionales 22 .…”

Awareness and knowledge of female genital schistosomiasis in a population with high endemicity: a cross-sectional study in Madagascar

“…Notably, our data show that both HCWs and women in the general population report peers as being their main source of information about the disease. Peer communication among patients has proven to be effective in increasing awareness and knowledge of different diseases ranging from HIV ( Ayala et al, 2021 ) to cancer ( Ancker et al, 2009 ), and COVID-19 ( Shoghli et al, 2023 ). Various health strategies have already been conceptualised, implemented and frequently integrated at different levels of care depending on the type of disease and context ( Ancker et al, 2009 ; Markowski et al, 2021 ).…”

Engagement of Peer Educators from India’s National Adolescent Health Programme for the COVID-19 response activities: Qualitative Findings from iSaathiya study

“…As the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, PEs expanded their roles to take on leadership in response activities related to COVID-19. Evidence from other countries highlighted that Peer Education programmes have contributed to enhanced vaccine uptake among high school students in Poland [14], improved health literacy and adherence to preventive measures among vulnerable adolescents in Iran [15]. The extent to which PEs of RKSK in India contributed to COVID-19 response activities remains uncertain but imperative to investigate as COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented strain on the healthcare system and health workers.…”