<p> <p>&nbsp / </p> </p> <p align="left">In this minithesis the researcher explores the experiences of recipients of the HIV/AIDS peer education abstinence programme at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), with a particular focus on their perceptions of the extent to which, and the manner in which, the programme influenced their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding sexual risk behaviour, HIV and abstinence.</p>

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<p> <p>&nbsp / </p> </p> <p align="left">In this minithesis the researcher explores the experiences of recipients of the HIV/AIDS peer education abstinence programme at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), with a particular focus on their perceptions of the extent to which, and the manner in which, the programme influenced their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding sexual risk behaviour, HIV and abstinence.</p>

Uganda has a predominantly young population, and there is a need for targeted HIV/AIDS prevention programming. Peer education is a health intervention style that has been used with appreciable success in adolescent groups, but some issues exist. We hypothesize that more can be done in the program planning stages to increase the chances of sustained success, and have completed two different types of cross-sectional analyses to investigate this aspect. We used Social Network Analysis to examine the social structure of two secondary schools in Fort Portal, Uganda. We identified existing modes of influence and natural channels of communication, and used these to create a feasible model of peer educator selection. We also studied present levels of communication about sexual and reproductive health within youth relationships, and found that youth are willing to talk to their friends, but high levels of communication do not generally occur. This provides an important point of entry for health promotion programs. / Population Health

Type 2 diabetes is a common chronic disease, which has a negative health impact and results in enormous economic burden. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically and it affects older people disproportionately. The healthcare system in China is faced with an overwhelming burden due to a large ageing population, high prevalence of diabetes and limited healthcare resources. Self-management has been widely accepted as the cornerstone of the clinical management of type 2 diabetes. Since self-management usually involves complex behaviour change and can be emotionally challenging, effective education is essential to facilitate this transition. However, there has been no existing program of type 2 diabetes self-management for older patients in China until now. Furthermore, the generalisation of any health education programs is often hampered due to limited healthcare resources in China. The primary purpose of this study was to develop a socially and culturally suitable self-management program, which addressed self-efficacy and social support to facilitate behaviour change and subsequent health improvement, for older people with type 2 diabetes living in the community in China. The secondary purpose was to test a feasible delivery model of the program through involvement of peer leaders and existing community networks. This study was conducted in three phases. Phase one gathered information about barriers related to self-management behaviours and help needed to address them, from the perspective of older people with type 2 diabetes and community health professionals, through focus group discussion. Data from Phase One, together with guidelines of the selected theoretical frame work, results from an extensive literature review, and experiences of previous relevant studies provided the basis for development of a peer-led type 2 diabetes self-management program (Phase Two). Phase Three involved a pre-test, post-test non-equivalent control group design to test the effectiveness of the self-management program on older people with type 2 diabetes in the community. The impact of the program on peer leaders was examined using a one group pre-test, post-test design. In addition, evaluation of the program from peer leaders’ and older people’s perceptions was conducted through a post-test questionnaire. Older people with type 2 diabetes and health professionals expressed broadly the same concerns, which were: social support; confidence to practice self-management behaviours; self-management behaviours; barriers to self-management behaviours; and advice for ongoing health education. However, their points of view were not always identical and different emphases were identified. The peer-led program produced significant improvement in social support, self-efficacy, self-management behaviours and depressive status in the experimental group, as compared to the non-equivalent control group. However, there was no significant effect on quality of life nor health care utilisation. Therefore, the effectiveness of the program among older people with type 2 diabetes was partially confirmed. In addition, the participants were supportive, giving positive feedback about the program. Suggestions for future improvement were provided as well. After receiving specific peer leader training and assisting in most of the delivery process of the program, the peer leaders improved, significantly, in overall self-management behaviours and in specific areas of social support and self-efficacy, though they did not improve in depressive status, quality of life and health care utlisation. In addition, these peer leaders enjoyed being peer leaders, and gave very positive feedback about the whole program. In conclusion, this study has implications for understanding and facilitating self-management behaviours for older people with type 2 diabetes in China. The peer-led self-management program was effective in improving levels of self-efficacy, social support, self-management behaviours and depressive status among older people with type 2 diabetes living in the community in China. The delivery process involving peer leaders was deemed feasible to implement within the health care system in China. The program is suitable to be used by community health professionals in their practice in China. The study also has potential wider benefit to nursing practice and global health practice.

Improving the quality use of medicines (QUM) among seniors, particularly those using multiple medicines, is a national priority. The National Prescribing Service??s Seniors QUM Program was developed in collaboration with consumers to address seniors?? medicines information needs. Seniors are trained as peer educators to convey QUM messages to other seniors in a single group session. However, there is a dearth of research assessing peer education for seniors about medicines, and little understanding of what peer educators do in practice. This research investigated how peer educators empower seniors toward the quality use of their medicines. A participatory action research inquiry was undertaken nationally with organisational leaders and locally with peer educators. The design was a nested case study with multiple sites, where the Seniors Program was the overarching case containing eight disparate local sites. The participatory inquiry engaged peer educators from each local site. Qualitative data were collected through participant observation and interviews. Data were analysed using grounded theory methods and findings were triangulated with other data sources. Peer educators demonstrated five main functions in the program ?? one primary function within QUM sessions and four support functions outside of sessions. The primary function of facilitating peer learning comprised 10 elements. A model depicts these elements in the context of varying session conditions and consequences. Educators?? lived experience as seniors and lay persons was an overarching contributor to peer learning, used strategically through storytelling to assist other elements. Sharing QUM outside of sessions occurred frequently, but requires development to reach isolated seniors. Peer educators exceeded expectations in getting QUM messages to seniors, applying unique skills to the information exchange within sessions. Their status as lay persons tackling the complex topic of QUM reflected an understanding of the disempowerment seniors may feel when seeking information about medicines. Peer educators?? ability to model an active partner role by applying their lived experience through storytelling in an interactive, mutually sharing session challenged seniors to rethink their medicines management and interactions with health professionals. As the population ages and medicines use increases, understanding and using seniors effectively as educators has great potential.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / In this minithesis the researcher explores the experiences of recipients of the HIV/AIDS peer education abstinence programme at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) / South Africa

The Cognitive theory was utilised in an attempt to understand the HIV and AIDS practice needs of peer educators in the Department of Social Development in the Free State province. The absence of guidelines affects the utilisation of peer educators and thus leads to the under-utilisation of programmes. The practice needs were therefore identified and recommendations were submitted with a view to address existing gaps Applied research was utilised as findings were used to make suggestions on the development of practice guidelines for programmes used by peer educators. As the researcher was interested in the rich data from peer educators‟ explanations about their HIV and AIDS practice needs, the most suitable research design for the study was the qualitative design with a collective case study. Purposive sampling was selected as the most appropriate sampling method within non-probability sampling, as the researcher‟s own knowledge and judgment of the population, its elements and the nature and purpose of the study, guided him. Within purposive sampling the researcher implemented volunteer sampling by issuing invitations to targeted participants who met specific criteria. Data collection was conducted through the implementation of two focus groups sessions consisting of 11 participants and eight participants respectively in each group for the duration of 90 minutes. Data collected was analysed using Creswell‟s analytical spiral. The planned research was expected to address issues of gaps and practice needs, as well as guidelines necessary for the implementation of the HIV and AIDS workplace prevention programme. / Dissertation (MSocial Work)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Social Work and Criminology / MSocial Work / Unrestricted

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Inledning: I Länsstyrelsen Blekinges projekt TBU, som står för tobaksfria barn och unga i Blekinge, har ambassadörer från gymnasiet använts för att nå ut med information om tobak till ungdomar i högstadiet. Arbetet med ambassadörer relaterar till metoden peer education som innebär att jämlikar utbildar jämlikar. Att använda jämlikar som är lik målgruppen i exempelvis ålder eller erfarenheter innebär en annan inlärningssituation än den som sker mellan till exempel lärare och elev. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka ambassadörernas arbete med peer education som tobaksprevention samt hur ambassadörer kunde påverkas av arbetet som peer educators. Metod: Metoden som använts i studien är intervjuer med ambassadörer samt en fokusgruppsintervju med TBU:s projektgrupp. Det insamlade empiriska materialet analyserades genom innehållsanalys. Resultat: Resultatet visar att ambassadörerna hade, eller utvecklade, ett intresse för sitt arbete och en förmåga att kommunicera med sin målgrupp, vilket de även nämnde som viktiga delar i rollen som ambassadör. Ambassadörerna hade också påverkats av sitt arbete, bland annat i form av stärkta kommunikationsförmågor och ökad kunskap, vilket även ansågs bero till största del på att ambassadörerna fick genomgå en utbildning innehållande olika delar och perspektiv. Konklusion: Det viktigaste i ambassadörernas arbete för att förebygga tobaksbruket hos högstadieelever var den utbildning som ambassadörerna fick under den första veckan av sitt arbete. Vi föreslår därför att TBU utvecklar ett konkret underlag för utbildningen med tydliga metoder och mål som tar hänsyn till att utveckla ambassadörernas intresse för ämnet och kommunikationsförmågor. Fortsatta studier kan förslagsvis undersöka hur högstadieeleverna upplevde relationen mellan ambassadörerna och dem. / Introduction: In the project known as TBU, tobacco free adolescents in Blekinge, ambassadors in the ages 16-19 have been used for spreading information about tobacco to adolescents in the ages 13-15. This approach is related to the method peer education. The use of peers who are close in age or have similar experiences represents another way of learning than the more common situation between a teacher and a student. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine how ambassadors use peer education as tobacco prevention and how the ambassadors could be affected by their work as peer educators. Method: The methods used in this study were interviews with the ambassadors and a focus group interview with the project group of TBU. The material was analysed with a content analysis. Results: The results show that the ambassadors had, or had developed, an interest for their work and an ability to communicate with their target group, which they also stated as important parts of the role as an ambassador. The ambassadors had also been affected by their work. Their communication skills had been improved and they had had an increase in knowledge, which was thought to be a result of their education containing different parts and perspectives. Conclusion: The most important in the work of the ambassadors to prevent the use of tobacco in adolescents was the education the ambassadors had the first week of their work period. Therefore, we suggest that TBU develops a concrete material for the education with well- defined methods and targets which would aim to develop the ambassadors interest for the subject and their communication skills. Further studies could examine the relationship between students and ambassadors from the student's perspective.