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Using senior volunteers as peer educators: What is the evidence of effectiveness in falls prevention?
Author(s) -
Peel Nancye M,
Warburton Jeni
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2008.00320.x
Subject(s) - scope (computer science) , psychological intervention , peer education , health promotion , psychology , promotion (chess) , medical education , peer group , health education , medicine , gerontology , nursing , social psychology , political science , public health , politics , computer science , law , programming language
Peer education models are well established as a means of delivering health and social welfare information. Common themes identified in regard to peer education are that information sharing and transfer take place; attempts are made to influence knowledge, attitudes or behaviour; that it occurs between people who share similar characteristics or experiences; and that it relies on influential members of a social group or category. Although it is most often associated with younger age‐groups, there is growing evidence of involvement of older people as peer educators. As part of community‐based fall prevention interventions, there is considerable scope for contribution by peer mentors. This paper explores the theoretical basis for using senior volunteers as peer educators, discusses advantages and disadvantages of this model of service delivery for health promotion of older people and, specifically, reviews the evidence for effectiveness in relation to fall prevention.