The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #65389

Katrina Ball, MPH¹, Sharon Rushing, MPH¹, Susanne B. Montgomery, MS, MPH, PhD², and Ivy Lewis³. (1) Department of International Health, Loma Linda University, School of Public Health, Loma Linda, CA 92350, (909) 307-6560, katrinaball@hotmail.com, (2) School of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion and Education, Evaluation Research Unit, Loma Linda University, 10970 Parkland Avenue, Loma Linda, CA 92350, (3) Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Nichol Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350

Project Peer Factor was designed to provide a culturally appropriate health education program that addressed the psychological and physical effects that substance abuse has on the body. Teens completed 20 hours of required peer health education training over a 3-week period. The curriculum for training of peer educators focused on topics identified by the teen participants as relevant to issues teens’ face today. Such training topics generally included alcohol, street drugs, and peer pressure. Peer educators were required to participate in the development of program activities and material development for dissemination to community teens. Peer health educators then served as outreach workers, educating and disseminating teen health data via a process activity based “teen health challenge booth” at local community venues. Booth activities included: 1) Intoxicated Barbie- a challenge designed to help participants understand how alcohol consumption affects motor skills and decision-making, 2) Hip-Hop Challenge-a challenge game in which participants competitively completed dance segments that were designed and incorporated with health messages related to specific designer drugs, and 3) Rap Challenge- a challenge in which teens must compose short raps about the effects that substance abuse has on the body.

Project learning and outcome objectives yielded statistically significant increases ranging from 55.6% to 77.8%, signifying a substantial increase in participant’s health knowledge. Peer-led educational learning experiences geared toward risk reduction are an extremely effective way to facilitate health discussions and provide better understanding of health information regarding substance use among teens.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to:
• Describe the relationship between peer-led educational programs and sound health messages, and
• Describe the benefits of a peer-led substance abuse educational program

Keywords: Peer Education, Substance Abuse Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.