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Leadership and Peer Counseling Program: Evaluation of Training and Its Impact on Filipino Senior Peer Counselors

Authors :
Karen Rose Vardeleon
Hiroshi Murayama
Maria Aileen Marges
Rogie Royce Carandang
Edward Asis
Masamine Jimba
Akira Shibanuma
Junko Kiriya
Source :
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 16, Iss 21, p 4108 (2019), International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 16, Issue 21
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2019.

Abstract

Senior volunteers represented a significant, mostly untapped lay resource of informal social care. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the training program on improving senior volunteers&rsquo<br />competency toward peer counseling, and explored its impact on their well-being after three months of the program implementation. We conducted a pre- and post-intervention analysis among 60 senior volunteers aged 60&ndash<br />82 years. They participated in 40 h of training and performed weekly peer counseling home visits for three months. We evaluated the program using survey questionnaires, trainer observation and debriefing, and focus group discussions. After the training, peer counselors showed a significant improvement (p &lt<br />0.001) in knowledge (17.1 versus 22.3) and skills (17.0 versus 17.9). All of them met the minimum required passing level of 70% for the knowledge test, and their overall performance was satisfactory as rated by two independent trainers. After three months, peer counselors showed a significant improvement (p &lt<br />0.001) in their subjective well-being (d = 0.69) and depressive symptoms (d = &minus<br />0.67). Filipino senior volunteers could be trained to serve as peer counselors in their communities. This program improved their competency and well-being. Future research is warranted to determine whether the provision of counseling by them will affect the health outcomes of the target population.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
16604601
Volume :
16
Issue :
21
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....36b23fe5dcab41593069cc3a5eb8a4f3