Effects of the Peer Education Program in Combating Violence Against Women

Friday, 26 July 2013: 8:50 AM

Özlem Can Gürkan, PhD
Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences of Marmara University., Istanbul, Turkey
Nuran Kömürcü, PhD
Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences of Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey

Learning Objective 1: The audience will learn that peer education program in combating violence against women is effective in education of nursing students.

Learning Objective 2: The audience will learn that the peer education program in combating violence against women has changed the nursing students’ knowledge, attitude and behavior.

Purpose: Violence against women is a important problem in Turkey. Despite the various work undertaken on the subject, nurses do not take on an effective role in combating violence against women. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of the peer education program in combating violence against women on nursing students' knowledge, attitude and behavior.

Methods: The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. A total of 136 students (experimental group (n=63); control group (n=73)) have participated in the study. The students had been studying for one  or two years in the nursing department of a university in Istanbul. The students in the experimental group received education program on combating violence against women from peer educators (final year nursing students). The control group students did not receive the education on combating violence against women. Participants were assessed pre-and post-training (2. month). The data was obtained from the groups through a survey form, Violence Against Women Knowledge Test (VAWKT), Domestic Violence Attitude Scale and case study.

Results: The study showed a statistically significant difference between the pre and post-education VAWKT points of students both in the experimental (t= -13; p=0) and control (t= -5; p=0) groups. The experimental group’s post-education Domestic Violence Attitude Scale points had a statistically significant reduction compared to pre-education points (t=4.4; p=0). No changes were found in the control group's Domestic Violence Attitude Scale points. While there was a statistically significant difference (X2=19.5; p=0) in the positive approach of experimental group students towards the case study, no difference was found in the control group.

Conclusion: The peer education program in combating domestic violence against women is effective in instilling knowledge, attitude and behavior in nursing students.