Do peer-based short-form educational videos created by nursing students improve youths' knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases? A quasi-experimental study

Abstract

BackgroundThe prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remains high worldwide in today's society, especially among young people. Youth education on STDs could help to reduce the prevalence of the condition in society and prevent new cases.AimThe aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of peer-based short-form educational videos on youths' knowledge of STDs.MethodsThis quasi-experimental study was conducted in Turkey. The sample consisted of 121 students divided into experimental and control groups. Pre- and post-test control group quasi-experimental research design was employed in this study during the spring semester of the academic year 2021-2022. Peer-based short-form educational videos created by nursing students were used as an intervention. The survey form and Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire were used to collect data.ResultsParticipants with parental responsibilities and had previous STD experience had higher knowledge score than the other subgroups. There was a significant main effect of peer-based short-form educational video on participants overall knowledge score of STDs. Additionally, the effect of intervention continued at 12-week follow-up measurement.ConclusionPeer-based short-form educational videos increase young people's knowledge of STD, and the impact of the intervention continued at 12-week follow up. What is already known about this topic?Sexually transmitted diseases continue to be prevalent in society, particularly among young people.Sexually transmitted diseases can lead to serious health conditions and have a significant impact on sexual and reproductive health.The effectiveness of internet-based education and lectures on sexually transmitted diseases has already been investigated.Little research has been addressed to determine the impact of educational materials, which are short videos on knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases created by utilizing nursing students' peer assessment.What this paper adds?Peer-based short-form educational videos increase young people's sexually transmitted disease knowledge.People with parental responsibilities and a previous sexually transmitted infections responded to interventions more favourably.The effects of peer-based short-form educational videos persisted 3 months afterwards.The implications for this paper:This cost-free method has a potential to be widely used as a public health intervention to educate young people on sexually transmitted diseases.The peer-based short-form educational videos can be combined with other interventions to increase young people's knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases.