Nutrition promotion for mature adults: a case study in peer education

The peer education model, which enables trained learners to instruct their peers, was tested in a case study involving senior citizens in a nutrition education program. The case study approach, using action research, was chosen because the project involved the description and analysis of a unique group of 32 mature adults. Topics selected for presentation in the three two-hour sessions were selected by open consensus of the entire participating body. Six members of the group volunteered to engage in a preliminary training program. These individuals became known as volunteer peer educators (VPE), who subsequently took full responsibility for disseminating the nutrition information to their peers. Educational materials to meet the goals of the program were compiled by the researcher in a resource manual for each of the volunteer peer educators. Techniques of participant observation for data collection and qualitative analysis were used. The satisfactory implementation of the program was due in great part to group selection of the learning episode; to a relaxed atmosphere; to enthusiasm on the part of the VPE; to the availability of a good resource manual and a facilitator who provided a strong organizational framework. The peer education model was found to be a particularly useful tool in providing nutrition information to a much broader sector of the senior population than can be currently reached via public health programs.