Objective
  The authors were engaged in an adolescent peer leader project. While the main target of this peer education was adolescent students, evaluation of a ripple effect on local residents is a necessary step for the development of peer education activities. Accordingly, the object of this study was to assess whether adolescent peer education had improved the health consciousness and knowledge of the local residents of a rural area of Mexico.
Method
  The subjects were residents aged between 12 and 69 years living in the districts covered by 3 public health centers in the Poza Rica district, Veracruz State. A list of residents in this age group was prepared, and 50% of all the households in each area were randomly selected. From March to April 2010, before the start of the activities, an interview survey was conducted.
Results
  Regarding the question on self-esteem, the percentage of respondents who reported being as capable as most other people significantly increased (p < 0.001). On lifestyle, the percentage of people who reported consuming vegetables and fruits daily or once in 23 days significantly increased (p < 0.001). Regarding knowledge about STDs and contraception, the rate of correct answers about STDs decreased in the second measurement, while the percentage of correct answers about contraception significantly increased. On peer education, the percentage of people who had heard of the term “peer educator” significantly increased (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
  The current adolescent peer education activity undertaken in a rural area of Mexico improved self-esteem and health consciousness in other residents of the community. The ripple effect on the entire community was limited for knowledge of STDs and contraception. However it was suggested that the increase of motivation for attendance to health education in the community could be a stepping stone to the spread of knowledge.

BACKGROUND: Global aging continues to progress. The shortage of human resources involved in long-term care (LTC) is a serious problem worldwide. It is necessary to promote the stable employment of foreign care workers. The purpose of this study was to identify which factors, including well-being, work engagement, and original items, contribute to foreign care workers' intent to continue working. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey of 259 foreign LTC workers at LTC facilities in Japan. The questionnaire survey items included the Japanese version of the Subjective Well-being Scale (J-SWBS), the Japanese version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (J-UWES), and original items related to educational needs and issues. We used multiple regression analysis to predict variability from correlations among variables. And after that, we conducted a path analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM), and added that the explanatory variables (IV) were well-being, work engagement, and the original item component, and that the outcome variable (DV) was intention to continue working. We set a hypothetical model based on structural equations, corrected by path analysis, and examined its suitability. RESULTS: The number of returned questionnaires for 259 foreign care workers was 147 (response rate 56.7%), and the number of analyzable questionnaires was 129 (valid response rate 49.8%). For intention to continue working, the results of structural equation modeling showed direct effects for satisfaction with low back pain measure guidance (β = .255), satisfaction with the national examination guidance method (β = .217), well-being (β = .046), and work engagement (β = .026). In work-engagement, there was a direct effect of happiness (β = .715), willingness to learn good care (β = 4.849), and confidence in my ability (β = 2.902,), whilst in well-being, satisfaction with low back pain measure guidance (β = 1.582) and confidence in my ability (β = 1.999) were found to have direct effects. CONCLUSIONS To increase the intent of foreign care workers to continue working, appropriate guidance should be given related to the development of lumbago. In addition, to provide a place and scene where they can learn good care, having a relationship in practice where foreign care workers can feel that their abilities are being utilized, and developing and maintaining educational support that motivates them to learn good care may be effective.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Intention ; Japan ; Work Engagement