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.
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