Peer education program to improve fluid consumption in primary schools-lessons learned from an innovative pilot study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Health Education
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Children's fluid intake is a recognized health concern with limited improvement strategies.
• Peer education is a potential method for altering health behaviors in school-aged children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot a peer education program aimed at enhancing fluid intake knowledge among primary school students.
• To assess the effectiveness and sustainability of the peer education intervention on hydration knowledge.

Main Methods:

• University students trained as peer educators in a dedicated course.
• Intervention delivered during a School Health Day led by peer educators.
• Hydration knowledge assessed via anonymous surveys pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 15 weeks later.

Main Results:

• Significant increase in fluid intake knowledge observed immediately post-intervention in both lower and upper primary students (N=326).
• Sustained knowledge improvement was noted only in upper primary students after 15 weeks.
• Peer educator feedback proved valuable for program refinement.

Conclusions:

• The peer education program effectively improved primary school children's knowledge of fluid intake.
• Knowledge retention varied between lower and upper primary grades, suggesting program adaptation needs.
• The program's success warrants replication and adaptation for international contexts and other health behaviors.