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AJPH First Look, published online ahead of print Dec 17, 2009
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February 2010, Vol 100, No. 2 | American Journal of Public Health 247-253
© 2010 American Public Health Association
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.149419

FRAMING HEALTH MATTERS

A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Peer-Based Interventions on Health-Related Behaviors in Adults

Allison R. Webel, RN, PhD, Jennifer Okonsky, RN, MA, NP, Joyce Trompeta, PNP, PhD and William L. Holzemer, RN, PhD

At the time of the study, Allison R. Webel and Jennifer Okonsky were doctoral students at the Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco. Joyce Trompeta was with the Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, University of Hawaii, Honolulu. William L. Holzemer was with the Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco.

Correspondence: Correspondence can be sent to Dr Allison Webel, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106-4904 (e-mail: allison.webel{at}case.edu). Reprints can be ordered at http://www.ajph.org by clicking the "Reprints/Eprints" link.

We reviewed 25 randomized clinical trials that assessed the effect of peer-based interventions on health-related behaviors in adults. Effect sizes were calculated as odds ratios or standardized mean differences. We grouped most of the studies by 7 measured outcomes, with effect sizes ranging from –0.50 to 2.86. We found that peer-based interventions facilitated important changes in health-related behaviors, including physical activity, smoking, and condom use, with a small- to medium-sized effect. However, the evidence was mixed, possibly because of the heterogeneity we found in methods, dose, and other variables between the studies. Interventions aimed at increasing breastfeeding, medication adherence, women's health screening, and participation in general activities did not produce significant changes.






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