Health Education Research, Vol. 14, No. 2, 235-247,
April 1999
© 1999 Oxford University Press
A method in search of a theory: peer education and health promotion
Health Promotion Services, Oatlands House, Winchester Road, Southampton SO15 5NB and Health Education Unit, School of Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
Peer education has grown in popularity and practice in recent years in the field of health promotion. However, advocates of peer education rarely make reference to theories in their rationale for particular projects. In this paper the authors review a selection of commonly cited theories, and examine to what extent they have value and relevance to peer education in health promotion. Beginning from an identification of 10 claims made for peer education, each theory is examined in terms of the scope of the theory and evidence to support it in practice. The authors conclude that, whilst most theories have something to offer towards an explanation of why peer education might be effective, most theories are limited in scope and there is little empirical evidence in health promotion practice to support them. Peer education would seem to be a method in search of a theory rather than the application of theory to practice.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  G. A. Alcock, N. S. More, S. Patil, M. Porel, L. Vaidya, and D. Osrin Community-based health programmes: role perceptions and experiences of female peer facilitators in Mumbai's urban slums Health Educ. Res., December 1, 2009; 24(6): 957 - 966. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Starkey, S. Audrey, J. Holliday, L. Moore, and R. Campbell Identifying influential young people to undertake effective peer-led health promotion: the example of A Stop Smoking In Schools Trial (ASSIST) Health Educ. Res., December 1, 2009; 24(6): 977 - 988. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Holliday, S. Audrey, L. Moore, N. Parry-Langdon, and R. Campbell High fidelity? How should we consider variations in the delivery of school-based health promotion interventions? Health Education Journal, March 1, 2009; 68(1): 44 - 62. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. R. Mwanga, B. B. Jensen, P. Magnussen, and J. Aagaard-Hansen School children as health change agents in Magu, Tanzania: a feasibility study Health Promot. Int., March 1, 2008; 23(1): 16 - 23. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Doshani, E. Pitchforth, C. J Mayne, and D. G Tincello Culturally sensitive continence care: a qualitative study among South Asian Indian women in Leicester Fam. Pract., December 1, 2007; 24(6): 585 - 593. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Audrey, J. Holliday, N. Parry-Langdon, and R. Campbell Meeting the challenges of implementing process evaluation within randomized controlled trials: the example of ASSIST (A Stop Smoking in Schools Trial) Health Educ. Res., July 1, 2006; 21(3): 366 - 377. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Dolan, V. Staples, S. Summer, and G. L. Hundt 'You ain't going to say...I've got a problem down there': workplace-based prostate health promotion with men Health Educ. Res., December 1, 2005; 20(6): 730 - 738. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Audrey, K. Cordall, L. Moore, D. Cohen, and R. Campbell The development and implementation of a peer-led intervention to prevent smoking among secondary school students using their established social networks Health Education Journal, January 1, 2004; 63(3): 266 - 284. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. Strange, S. Forrest, A. Oakley, and The RIPPLE Study Team What influences peer-led sex education in the classroom? A view from the peer educators Health Educ. Res., June 1, 2002; 17(3): 339 - 349. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Campbell and Z. Mzaidume Grassroots Participation, Peer Education, and HIV Prevention by Sex Workers in South Africa Am J Public Health, December 1, 2001; 91(12): 1978 - 1986. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Power and G. Hunter Developing a strategy for community-based health promotion targeting homeless populations Health Educ. Res., October 1, 2001; 16(5): 593 - 602. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. R. Mellanby, R. G. Newcombe, J. Rees, and J. H. Tripp A comparative study of peer-led and adult-led school sex education Health Educ. Res., August 1, 2001; 16(4): 481 - 492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Rickard and T. Growney Occupational health and safety amongst sex workers: a pilot peer education resource Health Educ. Res., June 1, 2001; 16(3): 321 - 333. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Harden, A. Oakley, and S. Oliver Peer-delivered health promotion for young people: A systematic review of different study designs Health Education Journal, January 1, 2001; 60(4): 339 - 353. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|