The positive effects of a peer-led intervention system for individuals with a risk of metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major health risk in Thailand. Although it is reported that females have a higher rate of MetS than males, very few peer-led intervention studies have been conducted on specific groups, such as seamstresses, at risk of MetS. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a peer-led intervention program on reducing MetS risk factors in individuals working in Thai Uniform Sewing Military Factories. METHODS: A quasiexperimental program was introduced using a pre- and posttest design that was applied to female sewing factory workers selected for this research. All participants had at least one of the key MetS symptoms. The experimental group (N=50 participants) received 12 weekly peer-led individual support discussion sessions that included both dietary and physical activity (PA) advice and the control group (N=50 participants) followed their usual daily routines. The Student’s t-test and the Pearson’s chi-squared test were used to compare the differences of baseline data and analysis of variance was used for analysis of the data after intervention. RESULTS: The results showed that after 3 months of participation, when compared to the control group, the experimental group had significantly improved systolic blood pressure (BP) (P=0.04), diastolic BP (P<0.001), PA (P=0.05), knowledge scores of MetS, perception of MetS and risk factors (P<0.001), and stress assessment (P=0.002). Waist circumference, body mass index, and Food Frequency Questionnaire score were not significantly different but still improved. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study suggest that a peer-led support program can be introduced as an effective means of improving the behaviors of mostly sedentary factory workers at risk of MetS caused by working habits that are detrimental to health.