Peer Support Activities Research Articles

Lights and Shadows of Lecanemab: Post-diagnosis Support for People with Dementia Receiving Early Diagnosis

The advent of lecanemab is a hope not only for people with dementia and their families but also for society as a whole. However, the effectiveness of lecanemab is limited, and the need to inform patients of their dementia may emphasize negative aspects more than ever as "early diagnosis leads to early despair." In this situation, it is important to provide post-diagnostic support to make the "time spent living with dementia," which is prolonged by lecanemab, as meaningful as possible. In this review, the authors introduce the "Peer Support Activities for people with mild dementia and their families," a post-diagnosis support program for those diagnosed early in the course of the disease.

SUCCEED Africa: protocol for a multi-method pilot study of a community-based intervention for people with psychosis in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Malawi

BackgroundRecent reviews have highlighted the need for participatory research to design and evaluate inclusive, community-based interventions that address the diverse needs of people with lived experience of psychosis, within and beyond the health sector. The SUCCEED Africa consortium aims to co-produce a 6-year programme of research across four countries in West (Sierra Leone, Nigeria) and Southeast Africa (Zimbabwe and Malawi). This protocol describes the pilot study in which SUCCEED’s intervention, research tools and processes will be tested on a small scale in each country in preparation for future evaluation research.MethodsThe SUCCEED intervention comprises peer support, case management and livelihood activities for people with lived experience of psychosis. The pilot uses a before-and-after study design investigating change in subjective quality of life in adults diagnosed with a primary psychotic disorder or another mental disorder with psychotic symptoms who are offered the SUCCEED intervention over a 4-month period. Nested within this study are the following: a baseline assessment of the feasibility, acceptability and face validity of the selected measurement tool and validity of proxy versus self-completion; and a multi-method process evaluation examining key process indicators and implementation, service and client-level outcomes. Methods include the following: baseline cognitive interviews; semi-structed observation and routine monitoring and evaluation of service delivery; endline interviews and focus group discussions; and a comparison of provider competencies at endline. At each of the four pilot sites, participants will include the following: ten people with lived experience of psychosis, recruited from either health services or community settings using purposive sampling to maximise variation; up to ten adult family members (one per participant with lived experience) involved in their care; the peer support worker, community support worker and supervisor responsible for delivering the intervention; and the data collectors. Recruitment will take place in July and August 2023.DiscussionTo the best of our knowledge, this will be the first study of a community-based intervention incorporating lay-delivered case management, formal peer support and livelihoods activities for people with lived experience of psychosis in sub-Saharan Africa. Findings will be relevant not only to SUCCEED but also to others interested in promoting rights-based approaches to community mental health in low-resource settings.Trial registrationUS National Library of Medicine (ClinicalTrials.gov), Protocol reference ID 28346. Initially registered retrospectively July 20/2023: In review.

Perceived Higher Unmet Care Needs among Adults in Permanent Supportive Housing.

This study is original in that it assesses various types of care needs, barriers to care, and factors associated with higher unmet needs among 308 permanent supportive housing (PSH) residents in Quebec (Canada). Data from structured interviews that featured the Perceived Need for Care Questionnaire were collected from 2020 to 2022, controlling for the COVID-19 pandemic period. Eight types of care (e.g., information, counseling) were accounted for. Based on the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations, predisposing, need, and enabling factors associated with higher unmet care needs were assessed using a negative binomial regression model. The study found that 56% of adult PSH residents, even those who had lived in PSH for 5 + years, had unmet care needs. Twice as many unmet needs were due to structural (e.g., care access) rather than motivational barriers. Living in single-site PSH, in healthier neighborhoods, having better quality of life and self-esteem, and being more satisfied with housing and outpatient care were associated with fewer unmet care needs. PSH residents with co-occurring mental disorders (MD)and substance use disorders (SUD), and with moderate or severe psychological distress were likely to have more unmet needs. Better access to care, counseling and integrated treatment for co-occurring MD-SUD might be improved, as well as access to information on user rights, health and available support. Welfare benefits could be increased, with more peer support and meaningful activities, especially in single-site PSH. The quality of the neighborhoods where PSH are located might also be better monitored.

The Impact of the Peer Support Programme on Interpersonal Relationship, Self-Esteem, General Health Questionnaire and Adaptation Scale for School Environments on Six Spheres among Japanese High School Pupils

This study aimed to explore how the peer support programme gave influences on technical high school pupils in Japan. The study invited a total 76 pupils (37 in an intervention group and 39 in a control group) to be involved into the peer support programme and assessments. The participants were annually assessed three times by adopting four scales, which examined their interpersonal relationship level, self-esteem, mental health, and school environmental adaptation states. The results showed that pupils in the intervention group (the peer supporters) tended to improve their own skills and abilities in terms of all the scales after joining the programme. Also, in terms of Adaptation Scale for School Environments on Six Spheres (ASSESS), which was a newly developed scale, there were no significant positive influences in both areas of “fulfillments in study” and “peer support activities against bullying”. As a conclusion, even in the technical high school where the majority of pupils were male, the peer support programme gave positive influences on the intervention group (the peer supporters) in terms of interpersonal relationship level, self-esteem, mental health, and school environmental adaptation states.

“Diabetes is really simple on paper, but really complicated when you actually have it”: Understanding the daily stressors of adolescents living with Type 1 diabetes

AbstractPurposeThis study aims to explore the daily stressors experienced by adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the perceived impact of those stressors on their self‐management and psychological well‐being.Design and MethodsWe conducted semistructured in‐depth telephone interviews using a qualitative descriptive approach with 20 adolescents aged 14–17 years with T1D and analyzed subsequent data using thematic analysis.ResultsParticipants who were non‐Hispanic white made up 85% of the sample, 75% identified as female and mean age was 15 years. The study identified two key themes: “the everyday stress of living with diabetes” and “managing stress and supporting psychological well‐being.” Participants described heightened mental load, the impact of daily activities, stress associated with public diabetes management, and added stress due to COVID‐19. Primary mitigation techniques included family support, peer support networks, activity engagement, and personal acceptance of their condition.Practice ImplicationsWe found that there is a compound effect that occurs with balancing daily disease management with normative activities of daily living. These data will help guide the design of new interventions and tailoring of existing interventions. Future intervention development may include physical exercise, mindfulness training, and stress reducing techniques.

The Poetry of Recovery in Peer Support Workers with Mental Illness: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

This study was conducted to investigate and understand various aspects related to participants' experiences in peer support activities, with a particular focus on their personal growth and the influence of these activities on their lives. In this qualitative study, peer support workers with mental illness were the main subjects, and they were recruited from G Metropolitan City, South Korea. The study used purposive sampling, guided by recommendations from peer support worker support organizations. A total of five participants were selected using purposive sampling to ensure maximum variability in the sample. Data collection involved semi-structured individual interviews, and data analysis was conducted using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) method. Following the IPA procedure for data analysis, the study revealed six themes that encapsulated the recovery experiences of peer support workers with mental illness: (1) Facing confusion and challenges, (2) Rising and refining myself, (3) Navigating the paths of relationships, (4) Gazing at the desired horizons, (5) Awakening the inner hero, and (6) Standing as a person who cherishes life. This research underscores the positive impact of peer support activities on individuals who have faced mental health challenges. It emphasizes the significance of self-discovery, the development of supportive relationships, and the aspiration for a brighter future. These findings contribute to the expanding body of knowledge regarding the benefits of peer support in the context of mental health recovery.

Online peer support for children with a family member experiencing mental health challenges: perspectives from children and young people during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to investigate the benefits and difficulties with providing online peer support services for children with a family member experiencing mental health challenges. Method Using a qualitative descriptive design, the perspectives were gathered of Australian children and young people with a family member experiencing mental health challenges and had participated in online peer support activities during the COVID-19 restrictions of 2020 and 2021. Five age-differentiated focus groups were held with participants aged between 8 and 24 years (N = 32), and interviews were held with youth peer leaders (N = 3) and program facilitators (N = 6). Results This paper presents seven themes generated from the qualitative data. The themes captured the benefits of an online setting such as enabling greater accessibility, participation and comfort. Juxtaposed with this, themes also captured challenges such as the unease and risks of participating online, as well as the perspective that in-person activities facilitated stronger and quicker connections. Discussion It was concluded that a blended model of online and in-person support services is likely to be valuable for children with a family member experiencing mental health challenges to ensure accessibility and provide the capacity to meet the varied needs of this cohort.

Engaging parents to reduce youth violence: evidence from a youth justice board pathfinder programme

AbstractThe Youth Justice Board’s 2019–2022 strategic plan set youth violence as a priority. As part of this, a ‘pathfinder’ approach was launched to assist local authorities and their partners to devise, develop, and disseminate whole systems approaches to serious youth violence (Youth Justice Board in Pathfinder—YJB, https://yjresourcehub.uk/working-with-partners/item/651-pathfinder-yjb.html Youth Justice Board Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21, 2020). In partnership with a regional Violence Reduction Unit, seven local Youth Offending Teams worked together with a programme that facilitated peer support networks for parents of children known to the youth justice system. The programme presented a challenge to a view in statutory youth justice of parents as part of the problem (Burney and Gelsthorpe in Howard J Crimin Justice 47(5):470–485, 2008). The aim of the programme was to engage parents of young people involved in the youth justice system, facilitating peer to peer support through a blend of online and face-to-face meetings. Taking a mixed-method approach, the research sought to investigate the impact of the programme on participants’ well-being and perceived competence with parenting. A secondary aim was to explore experiences of the self-care and peer support activities offered by the programme. The quantitative findings showed statistically significant increases in parents’ self-reported well-being and perceived competence with parenting during engagement with the programme. Effect sizes reached the minimum important difference for all of the quantitative measures, with a large effect for well-being. The qualitative findings highlighted that the self-care focus was important in engaging parents and helps distinguish the programme from statutory services. The findings are combined in the paper to produce a potential model of peer support for parents of children known to the youth justice system. Future research should investigate the impact on the children of parents who took part in this programme with a specific focus on youth violence.

Adapting to change during the pandemic: The impact of COVID-19 on people living with HIV, and their coping strategies

Background: COVID-19 lockdowns led to people living with HIV experiencing lack of social connectedness, social isolation, difficulties with using technology and accessing health care and support services easily. The presented study sought to understand the challenges caused by COVID-19 and coping strategies. Methods: The study was conducted using focus groups with nineteen participants. Participants lost social connectedness, struggled to learn technology, and felt isolated in the absence of face to face peer support activities provided by HIV community support services. Participants employed a range of positive coping strategies including appreciation of the outdoors and volunteering. Conclusion: People living with value social contact and face-face support offered through HIV voluntary sector organisations. The absence of this led to compromised social and emotional wellbeing. This focus group-based research with provision of communal lunch however, played a part in addressing isolation, appreciation of social contact and limiting the psychological impact caused by COVID-19 lockdowns.

정신장애인 가족을 위한 동료가족지원 참여경험에 관한 사례연구

This study was a case research whose purpose was to examine how participatory experience of peer and family support activities was like to families of the mentally disabled. For the goal, the study selected its subjects 8 family members who had voluntarily participated in such activities, and made one-on-one in-depth interviews with them. Through the move, this study could classify the interviewees’statements about participation in the aforesaid activities into 4 categories, 12 sub-categories and 30 factors. As a result, the study found that peer and family support activities changed the subjects in terms of role and perspective, who responded that experience of the activities allowed them to ‘take some break in 20 years’, ‘discover the worthiness of sufferings’, ‘parents grow along with their mentally disabled child’ and ‘live a supportive life’. Based on the result, this study made practical and policy-level suggestions for the promotion and settlement of peer and family support activities.

Feasibility of dyadic peer support to augment a church-based healthy lifestyle programme

Objective: African Americans in the USA experience a disproportionate burden of chronic disease. Healthy lifestyle promotion programmes can help decrease this disease risk. This study determined the feasibility of using dyadic peer support to augment an existing healthy lifestyle programme in African American churches. Design: A prospective pre-post design was used with 80 participants from three churches in the southeastern USA over an 18-week period. Methods: Participants attended 9 weeks of group nutrition classes followed by 9 weeks of a dyadic peer support programme. Feasibility was measured by recruitment, acceptability, ability to collect peer support data, ability to implement the peer support component and preliminary health outcomes. Descriptive statistics and multilevel models were used to analyse the data. Results: Seventy-eight percent of participants completed group classes and peer support activities. Over 95% of participants would work with a partner again. Lay leaders and educators felt they had the resources and participant support to implement a dyadic peer support intervention. Participants achieved small but significant average increases of 1.1 fruit servings per day ( p = .001) and 1.2 days of physical activity per week ( p = .01) post-intervention. Significant changes in weight (−2.6 pounds, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −4.18, −1.1; p = .001) and vegetable intake (0.681 servings, 95% CI = 0.122, 1.241; p = .017) achieved during the first 9 weeks of the programme were maintained during the second 9 weeks. Conclusion: Dyadic peer support can successfully be used to augment existing healthy lifestyle promotion programmes within African American churches. Studies using control groups are needed to test the effectiveness of dyadic peer support on health outcomes more rigorously.

Experiences of peer support activities and the need for a metaverse-based program in young women with breast cancer: A qualitative study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore young breast cancer survivors’ experiences of peer support activities and their need for a metaverse-based peer support program. MethodsThis qualitative content analysis study involved 15 young women with breast cancer under the age of 40. Participants with diverse experiences in peer support activities were purposefully selected. Data were collected in March 2023 through three focus group interviews and three additional individual interviews. Saturation was reached when no new themes emerged from the interviews. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using conventional content analysis. This study ensured the trustworthiness of the data based on criteria including truth value, applicability, consistency, and neutrality. ResultsFour categories emerged: advantages, disadvantages, preferences for peer support activities, and the need for metaverse-based peer support programs. Participants valued peer support activities for exchanging information, nurturing empathy, and encouraging healthy behaviors. Challenges included information confusion, peer conflict, isolation, and stigma. Preferences for group composition, size, and medium varied; however, all participants agreed on the importance of operational guidelines. Participants expected a metaverse-based peer support program to provide safe and enjoyable experiences despite concerns about unfamiliar platforms. ConclusionsThis study highlights the unique needs and preferences of young breast cancer survivors regarding peer support activities. Well-organized and tailored peer support can significantly enhance their quality of life. These findings provide valuable insights for developing effective metaverse-based peer support programs to meet the needs of young women with breast cancer.

Attempt to Optimize the Role of Peer Support Group (PSG) in Increasing the Quality-of-Life Persons Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) Through the Revitalization of Peer Support Activities Program in Pati Regency

It is well-known that People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are denied and avoided by their own families. This is a very heavy social burden that must be borne by PLWHA. Therefore, the role of Peer Support Groups (PSG) as community empowerment is very important to improve the living quality of PLWHA. In this study, community service activities were conducted to optimize the role of PSG in improving the living quality of PLWHA in Pati Regency. Currently, Pati is the fourth highest city with PLWHA in Central Java, Indonesia. The community service utilized guidance participation, which prioritizes the involvement of the community in the activities. The implementation involved analytical methods for problem-solving and completion of the study. Two meetings were held at the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Clinic of Soewondo Pati Hospital. In average, one activity was attended by 5-8 participants. They are the volunteer members from PSG Rumah Matahari. The meetings focused on brainstorming sessions and on providing counselling about the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) program, which aimed to enhance knowledge about PMTCT among PSG Rumah Matahari volunteers, especially in assisting pregnant women with PLWHA. The results show that the community service activities successfully highlighted the importance of PSG in improving the quality of life for PLWHA. The PMTCT program was well understood by the PSG Rumah Matahari volunteers, indicating the effectiveness of the training.

Photovoice study of gratitude in ex-juvenile offenders

PurposeGratitude is an element of positive psychology that has been found effective in improving subjective well-being and decreasing aggression in offenders. However, there is a dearth of studies on gratitude in ex-juvenile offenders. This study aims to explore the gratitude of ex-juvenile offenders using a photovoice technique.Design/methodology/approachPhotos and stories behind pictures were collected from eight ex-juvenile offenders who reside in Kupang, Indonesia.FindingsThematic analysis resulted in four main themes: family as an oasis of gratitude, difficulty in social reintegration, strong peer support and gratitude and spirituality.Originality/valueThe results of this study indicated that family, peer support and intensive spiritual activities in prisons were influential in forming a sense of gratitude for ex-juvenile offenders. Interventions need to consider these three aspects to improve gratitude and resulting well-being in ex-juvenile offenders.

Individualized peer support needs assessment for families with eating disorders

BackgroundPeer support among family members is important in cases of mental illness, but there has been limited practice or research on individual peer support specific to families taking care of patients with eating disorders (EDs). To conduct peer support activities, it is necessary to clarify the needs of families.ObjectivesThe objective of this study are to identify the needs for group and individual peer support and the characteristics of family members with EDs who are willing to receive and provide individual peer support.MethodA cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted for family members with EDs recruited via the Internet. The questionnaires included demographic information on respondents and their patients, questions about the need for family peer support, interest in offering peer support, and social resources. All participants were given the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (J-ZBI_8), and the Anorectic Behavior Observation Scale (ABOS).ResultsOut of 314 respondents, 87.3% believed that a group peer support system was necessary, whereas 56.7% believed that an individual peer support system was necessary. As to whether they want to use individual peer support, 70 (22.4%) stated “Extremely YES” and 99 (31.7%) stated “Moderately YES.” Family members who were willing to receive individual peer support used more social resources and had higher scores on the GHQ and J-ZBI_8. Regarding the provision of peer support, 38 (12.2%) responded “very interested and willing to provide it if possible” and 87 (27.9%) responded “interested and willing to study.” Those with a high willingness to provide peer support used more social resources and had lower ABOS scores; however, 38 respondents (45.7%) exceeded the GHQ mental health screening cutoff (3/4).ConclusionFamily members with ED had a strong need for family peer support Those willing to receive individual peer support suffered from poor mental health and high burden of care. Family members willing to provide peer support tended to have patients whose EDs symptoms had already improved, but their own mental health was not necessarily good. Training for potential peer supporters is needed to implement peer support.

Barriers and facilitators in dietary and physical activity management of type 2 diabetes: Perspective of healthcare providers and patients

Background and aimsType 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a chronic disease that requires continuous management and daily self-care activities. The purpose of the study was to identify the barriers and facilitators in dietary and physical activity management of T2DM by patients. MethodTwo focus group discussions with patients with T2DM (n = 12) and interviews with healthcare providers (HCPs, n = 15) were done, to identify the barriers and facilitators experienced by patients towards lifestyle management in T2DM. Data were analyzed using qualitative data analysis software Atlas ti. version 8. ResultThree major themes were identified as barriers and facilitators viz., Personal barriers and facilitators, social barriers and facilitators, and barriers and facilitators related to the healthcare provider. Major barriers were denial of illness, low level of knowledge of the disease, excess use of gadgets, poor infrastructure, gender issues, and lack of time. Major facilitators identified were patient education and motivation, continuous counseling and regular follow-up, family and peer support, and recreational and indoor activities. ConclusionBased on the findings of the study, a multifaceted approach is required to address these barriers and facilitators. These findings will help in developing novel intervention strategies and making policy-level changes, which are required to improve diabetes self-management practices in people with T2DM.

Peer Support Activities for Veterans, Serving Members, and Their Families: Results of a Scoping Review

For many, including military veterans and their families, support between individuals with shared lived experiences, or peer support, has long been utilized as a way to support each other through many different challenges. Building on other reviews and guided by the seven domains of well-being in the Canadian veteran well-being framework, the objective of this paper is to describe and catalogue the nature of peer support activities and related outcomes in the veteran, serving member, and family member populations. A scoping review following the five stages outlined by Arksey and O'Malley was conducted; it was guided by the question: What is currently known about peer support activities for veterans, serving members, and their families that has been evaluated in the literature? In total, 101 publications from 6 different countries were included in this review and catalogued based on publication characteristics, participant information, peer support activity information, and peer information. Peer support activities have the potential to positively influence the well-being of veterans, serving members, and their families on a holistic level across multiple domains. This scoping review highlights the existing gaps in the literature and provides an important foundation for future research on peer support for these populations, specifically in the Canadian context.

정신장애인 동료지원활동의 고용 활성화 방안에 관한 연구

본 연구는 정신장애인 동료지원활동의 보다 발전적인 고용 활성화 방안을 모색하고자 하는데 그 목적이 있다. 그리 하여 정신장애인 동료지원활동 리더양성 일자리 지원사업을 담당하고 있는 직업재활실무자들을 대상으로 초점집단인터뷰 (FGI)를 실시하였다. 연구결과, 연구참여자들은 본 사업을 통해 역량강화에 대한 기대를 갖고 있었고, 동료지원활동가의 역할 에 대해 동료들에 대한 정서적 지원, 프로그램 계획 및 진행, 자조모임 운영, 사업 및 시설홍보, 직원 보조지원의 역할 등으로 인식하고 있었다. 또한 금전적인 보상과 의미있는 역할 수행이 된다면 보다 동기부여 될 수 있다고 보았으며, 사업참여를 통 해 힘들지만 보람을 느끼며, 전문성 향상을 위해 스스로 노력하는 모습을 보였다. 본 연구결과를 토대로 정신장애인 동료지원 활동 고용 활성화를 위한 논의 및 실제적인 제언을 하였다.

Embedding Physical Activity into Community-Based Peer Support Groups for those Severely Affected by Mental Illness.

Despite a growing evidence base on the effectiveness of community-based physical activity interventions for mental health, there is a lack of studies that focus on those affected by severe mental illness (SMI), who often experience poorer physical health, and are less physically active than the wider population. The use of peer support groups in this context is also understudied, despite benefits being documented in other contexts. This study examined the impact and process of a nationwide project to embed physical activity into peer support groups for those affected by SMI. Following the embedding of physical activity within peer support groups, interviews and focus groups were conducted to explore the experiences of those involved with the project and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The key findings related to: 1) the social aspects of embedding physical activity in the groups; 2) the focus on peer support and informal physical activity (rather than organised sport) being beneficial; 3) doing things differently and lessons to learn; and 4) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, we found that peer support is an important feature to include in projects encouraging those severely affected by mental illness to become more physically active.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence information specialist development pathway: Developing the skills, knowledge and confidence to quality assure search strategies.

Quality assurance (QA) is an important process in ensuring that systematic reviews and other evidence syntheses are supported by a high-quality search. This paper describes how the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK established a development pathway to ensure its information specialists had the skills, knowledge and confidence to undertake search QA. The key component of the pathway is that it blends technical knowledge with interpersonal skills. The pathway develops technical skills in the early steps before using peer support activities to build confidence while undertaking a range of searches. QA is effective when the search lead communicates the contextual information that has influenced search development. QA is treated as a collaboration to get the right search for the review. The key requirements for search QA, alongside technical knowledge, are communication, collaboration and negotiation skills.