THE INFLUENCE OF PEER EDUCATIONS ON INCREASING THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF NURSING STUDENT IN GREATER BANDUNG IN THE COVID 19 ERA

Abstrak

The WHO data on March 2020, showed that there were 509,164 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 46,484 new cases. The spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia is increasing day by day and has reached all 27 provinces, including West Java province. The government is implementing large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), leading to online learning for students and school children. This learning model requires the use of a laptop or cellphone for extended periods, resulting in reduced physical activity. In 2021, the incidence of COVID-19 decreased, and most students resumed offline learning. However, many students still did not engage in physical activities as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this, peer education has been identified as a highly effective strategy. Peer educators can motivate students to engage in positive activities and educate them by sharing information with their peers. This research aimed to determine the effect of peer health education on physical activity in students. The research methods used were quasi-experimental, employing a pretest-posttest control group design and a nonequivalent control group design. The sample size was 57 respondents for the intervention group and 57 respondents for the control group, selected through purposive sampling. The intervention activities provided to the sample were nursing students, including providing material about COVID-19, using the guidebook for physical activity, and engaging in physical activities in the COVID-19 era using video media. The research results showed that peer educators had a significant influence on increasing physical activity in the COVID-19 era, as the p-value was 0.000, so that peer educators are appropriate to be implemented to provide a positive influence on teenagers.