OVERVIEW

The Peer Intervention Program is employs a peer-based approach and is integrated into a high school driver education course (McKnight & McPherson, 1986).

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target population: Students enrolled in drivers education

The Peer Intervention Program was nine hours long and included one hour of instruction in fundamental alcohol safety and eight hours of role playing and discussion regarding intervention in drinking and driving situations.

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

Evaluated population: 667 students enrolled in driver education in five Rhode Island high schools. (The ethnic and gender compositions of the sample were not detailed in the published article.)

Participants were randomized to the "Peer Intervention Program" or a conventional, information-oriented program control group. Immediately after the program implementation, students in the program and control groups showed significant increases in self-reported intervention in the drinking and driving behavior of others. At follow-up one to four months later, only students in the program condition continued to show a sustained increase in self-reported intervention in drinking and driving situations. The authors conclude that the Peer Intervention Program had desirable effects on the behavior of participants in drinking and driving situations, sustained over the short-term, while any desirable effects of the standard information-based program dissipated almost immediately. These findings are indeed suggestive; however, further study will be needed to assess the longer-term effects of this program and to evaluate the extent to which self-reported behaviors might have biased the present findings.

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

References:

McKnight, A.J. & McPherson, K. (1986). Evaluation of peer intervention training for high school alcohol safety education. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 18(4), 339-347.

Program also discussed in the following Child Trends publication(s):

Hatcher, J. L. & Scarpa, J. (2001). Background for community-level work on physical health and safety in adolescence: Reviewing the literature on contributing factors. Washington, DC, Child Trends.

Hatcher, J. L. & Scarpa, J. (2002). Encouraging teens to adopt a safe, healthy lifestyle: A foundation for improving future adult behaviors (Research brief). Washington , DC : Child Trends.

SUMMARY & CATEGORIZATION

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

Evaluated participant ages: High school students in drivers’ education / Program age ranges in the Guide: 15-21

Program components: School-based

Measured outcomes: Physical health, Behavioral problems

Program information last updated 12/31/01.

© Child Trends 2003