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Peer Education and Peer Counselling for Health and Well-Being: A Review of Reviews

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  • Keith James Topping

    (School of Education, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK)

Abstract

Peer education and peer counselling for health and wellbeing have been recognized as complementary approaches to professional intervention for over 50 years, but it is relatively recently that research into effects has become adequate. Potentially, they have advantages in reaching where professionals cannot, but it has not been clear if that potential is fulfilled, although the measurement of effects is difficult. The present paper examines 58 narrative and systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the topic. In peer education, there were many reviews of sexual health and of HIV/AIDS interventions, followed by reviews of various medical conditions and in the context of prisons. More general reviews covered a wider field. In peer counselling, there were several reviews of breast-feeding and mental health. Many early reviews complained of the lack of evaluation; then, later reviews found knowledge gains but not behavior gains; then, still later reviews found both knowledge and behavior gains. Thus, peer education and counselling appear effective but only if organizational factors are well managed and the cultural context of the country respected. The implications for future practice, policy and research were outlined.

Suggested Citation

  • Keith James Topping, 2022. "Peer Education and Peer Counselling for Health and Well-Being: A Review of Reviews," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:6064-:d:817057
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lorthios-Guilledroit, Agathe & Richard, Lucie & Filiatrault, Johanne, 2018. "Factors associated with the implementation of community-based peer-led health promotion programs: A scoping review," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 19-33.
    2. Lumbwe Chola & Lars T Fadnes & Ingunn M S Engebretsen & Lungiswa Nkonki & Victoria Nankabirwa & Halvor Sommerfelt & James K Tumwine & Thorkild Tylleskar & Bjarne Robberstad & PROMISE-EBF Study Group, 2015. "Cost-Effectiveness of Peer Counselling for the Promotion of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Uganda," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Maticka-Tyndale, Eleanor & Barnett, Jessica Penwell, 2010. "Peer-led interventions to reduce HIV risk of youth: A review," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 98-112, May.
    4. Carr, Rey A., 1988. "The city-wide peer counselling program," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 10(3), pages 217-232.
    5. Tricia K Gatlin & Reimund Serafica & Michael Johnson, 2017. "Systematic review of peer education intervention programmes among individuals with type 2 diabetes," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(23-24), pages 4212-4222, December.
    6. Webel, A.R. & Okonsky, J. & Trompeta, J. & Holzemer, W.L., 2010. "A systematic review of the effectiveness of peer-based interventions on health-related behaviors in adults," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(2), pages 247-253.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jean-Michel Mercier & Fardous Hosseiny & Sara Rodrigues & Anthony Friio & Suzette Brémault-Phillips & Duncan M. Shields & Gabrielle Dupuis, 2023. "Peer Support Activities for Veterans, Serving Members, and Their Families: Results of a Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-22, February.
    2. Erin McKinney-Prupis & Yung-Chen Jen Chiu & Christian Grov & Emma K. Tsui & Sharen I. Duke, 2023. "Psychosocial and Health-Related Behavioral Outcomes of a Work Readiness HIV Peer Worker Training Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-19, February.

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