Students mentoring students about upstream causes of health and advocacy: A peer-led public health education model

Background: The need for public health professionals has sparked interest in developing a high school “pipeline” to increase the size of the public health workforce. However, few public health programs exist and faculty are often unable to introduce new topics. Peer-mentoring, which rethinks traditional teaching roles and empowers students to direct their learning, has been used as an alternative education method. This project explores the feasibility and effectiveness of using an innovative peer-led model to teach high school students about upstream causes of health and public health advocacy.

Methods: We adapted lessons from a teacher-led academic-year public health curriculum and implemented a month-long pilot to determine if students could assume the role of teachers. Preliminary results from pre- and post-test surveys indicated that students can lead activities and showed positive change in their understanding of and attitudes towards public health. We are 1) expanding this pilot to peer-led, after-school clubs that supplement existing community advocacy projects with relevant health-related workshops (e.g., upstream causes of hunger during school-wide food drive), and 2) creating a manual to help students establish clubs, direct advocacy projects, and teach workshops at their schools. Prior to broad dissemination, this model will be further evaluated using pre- and post-test surveys of workshop participants and conducting focus groups with students and administrators.

Conclusion: This peer-led model of public health education will expose students to the upstream causes of health and provide them the skills needed to address health issues in their communities without requiring teacher instruction and time.