Effect of peer education model on nursing students' knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS

This research is an intervention study designed as a single group pre-test post-test model without control group in order to examine the effect of education provided to nursing students based on peer education model on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) knowledge level and attitude. The research was carried out at AYBÜ Nursing Department. Sample of the study consisted of second year nursing students agreed to participate in study and enrolled Internal Medicine Nursing course for the first time (n=97). In the first stage of the study, nine peer guides were selected and a total of 12 hours of training was given them by the researcher. In the second stage, peer guides provided a total of 12 hours of training to nine peer students groups created through randomization which contains 10 students in each group. Questionnaire form, AIDS knowledge scale and AIDS attitude scale were used to collect the data. Data was analyzed by using desctiptive statistics, Pearson Chi-Square test, paired sample T-Test, Wilcoxon Test and Spearman correlation test. It was determined that peer education provided a statistically significant increase in AIDS knowledge scale score in peer students (Pretest x̄=10.32±3.59, posttest x̄=19.69±1.51) (p <0.001). In addition, peer education was found to provide a statistically significant increase in AIDS attitude scale score in peer students (Pretest x̄=56.64±8.36, posttest x̄=72.95±7.02) (p <0.001). It has been determined that peer education method is an effective method in increasing AIDS knowledge and attitude in nursing students. For this reason, it is recommended to include peer education model in educations towards HIV/AIDS which is considered taboo in our country.