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Teacher and student views on the feasibility of peer to peer education as a model to educate 16–18 year olds on prudent antibiotic use—a qualitative study

McNulty, Cliodna A. M.; Brown, Carla L.; Syeda, Rowshonara B.; Bennett, C. Verity; Schofield, Behnaz; Allison, David G.; Francis, Nick

Teacher and student views on the feasibility of peer to peer education as a model to educate 16–18 year olds on prudent antibiotic use—a qualitative study Thumbnail


Authors

Cliodna A. M. McNulty

Carla L. Brown

Rowshonara B. Syeda

C. Verity Bennett

David G. Allison

Nick Francis



Abstract

Peer education (PE) has been used successfully to improve young peoples’ health-related behaviour. This paper describes a qualitative evaluation of the feasibility of university healthcare students delivering PE, covering self-care and antibiotic use for infections, to biology students in three UK schools (16–18 years), who then educated their peers. Twenty peer educators (PEds) participated in focus groups and two teachers took part in interviews to discuss PE feasibility. Data were analysed inductively. All participants reported that teaching students about antibiotic resistance was important. PE was used by PEds to gain communication skills and experience for their CV. PEds confidence increased with practice and group delivery. Interactive activities and real-life illness scenarios facilitated enjoyment. Barriers to PE were competing school priorities, no antibiotic content in the non-biology curriculum, controlling disruptive behaviour, and evaluation consent and questionnaire completion. Participation increased PEds’ awareness of appropriate antibiotic use. This qualitative study supports the feasibility of delivering PE in schools. Maximising interactive and illness scenario content, greater training and support for PEds, and inclusion of infection self-care and antibiotics in the national curriculum for all 16–18-year olds could help facilitate greater antibiotic education in schools. Simplifying consent and data collection procedures would facilitate future evaluations.

Citation

McNulty, C. A. M., Brown, C. L., Syeda, R. B., Bennett, C. V., Schofield, B., Allison, D. G., & Francis, N. (2020). Teacher and student views on the feasibility of peer to peer education as a model to educate 16–18 year olds on prudent antibiotic use—a qualitative study. Antibiotics, 9(4), 194. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9040194

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 16, 2020
Online Publication Date Apr 19, 2020
Publication Date Apr 19, 2020
Deposit Date Apr 22, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Antibiotics
Electronic ISSN 2079-6382
Publisher MDPI
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 9
Issue 4
Pages 194
DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9040194
Keywords General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics; Microbiology (medical); Biochemistry; Pharmacology (medical); Microbiology; Infectious Diseases
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/5915712

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