The effects of peer-led nutrition model on nutrition knowledge among adolescents

Nutrition in the adolescent period is important for preventing diseases especially obesity, and for proper habits for prevention of chronic diseases that may occur especially when students are able to access fast and ready food. Since the students are open for being influenced by friends in the adolescent period, it is important to carry out studies that will use this situation positively. In this study, an education model: the peer education model trying to turn this situation to an advantage. A total of 72 students were divided randomly into two separate groups as traditional and peer led education group. Traditional education included basic nutrition education and was verbally explained. The other group was selected as the peer-led method and training was provided with the peer education model by dividing into two groups; narrators and audience. Narrators were given verbal training and then were asked to explain their peers with a sample of the same training. The content of both training was exactly the same. Adölesan Beslenme Bilgi Düzeyi (ABBID) questionnaire was used for pre and post knowledge levels. Increase in knowledge in both methods were found statistically significant (p<0.05). The increase in the peer-led method was more significant than the traditional education method group, but there was not a statistically significant difference between the narrator and the audience (p>0.05). This education found to be a useful way for adolescents to increase their nutritional knowledge levels, as well as to increase their friendship and self-confidence with their peers. Keywords: nutrition education, nutritional knowledge level, peer education in adolescent