Provide Peer Support Research Articles

Experiences of Blogging About Visible and Long-term Skin Conditions: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

Skin conditions can detract from people's quality of life, much like conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, and depression. Visible skin conditions can lead to risk of stigmatization. It is acknowledged that there is a lack of available psychosocial support for people living with chronic skin conditions. One way in which individuals with long-term conditions are self-managing and providing peer support is through blogging and exchanging information on the web. To date, no research has specifically investigated how individuals with skin conditions experience the use blogging for self-management. This study sought to investigate the experiences of individuals with visible, long-term skin conditions when blogging about their conditions. A systematic blog search and a short survey were used for recruitment. A total of 4 participants took part in email interviews, which were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Skin conditions included alopecia, psoriasis, and hirsutism. The content of these individuals' blogs was also analyzed using a qualitative template method derived from the IPA analysis. The interviews and accounts revealed a clear sense of uncertainty about the course of the bloggers' skin conditions. This appeared to be associated with feelings of distress and isolation, searching for treatments, and ultimately a sense of defeat. The data revealed that blogging provided a space where this sense of defeat was managed and challenged. Posting on the web facilitated connection with others and enabled support networks to be established that assisted in challenging the feelings of isolation experienced. The data demonstrate the important role that blogging played for these participants in developing a sense of acceptance of their condition. Blogging may provide a way for individuals to self-manage distress associated with visible skin conditions. It may provide similar benefits to those known to be derived from emotional disclosure that occurs during writing, with an added peer support dimension. Blogging has occurred naturalistically on web-based forums, and this study demonstrates how this form of interaction may warrant adaptation for use with web-based psychosocial interventions for people living with skin conditions. This study had a limited sample of 4 bloggers; therefore, further exploration would be needed to consider the utility of this approach.

Supporting medical students to support peers: a qualitative interview study

BackgroundStudents may be the first to recognise and respond to psychological distress in other students. Peer support could overcome medical student reluctance to seek help despite their high rates of mental ill-health. Yet, despite the adoption of peer support programs, there is little evidence of impact on students. Peer support programs may assume that medical students accept and view peer support positively. We explored these assumptions by asking students about their experiences and views on peer support.MethodsQualitative semi-structured interviews exploring peer support experiences and views on peer support were conducted with ten medical students at two contrasting medical schools. Informed by a constructivist stance, interview transcripts underwent thematic analysis.ResultsThree groups of themes were identified: participants’ experiences of peer support encounters, concerns about providing support, and views on students’ roles in peer support. Participants readily recalled signs of peer distress. Encounters were ad hoc, informal, and occurred within relationships based on friendship or by being co-located in the same classes or placements. Concerns about initiating and offering support included lack of expertise, maintaining confidentiality, stigma from a mental health diagnosis, and unclear role boundaries, with implications for acceptance of student roles in peer support.ConclusionsOur study emphasised the centrality of social relationships in enabling or discouraging peer support. Relationships developed during medical studies may anticipate the collegial relationships between medical professionals. Nevertheless, only some students are willing to undertake peer support roles. We suggest different strategies for promoting informal peer support that can be offered by any student, to those promoting formal support roles for selected students. Future research focusing on the impact for both the students who receive, and on the students who provide peer support is called for.

Peer Support for Public Safety Personnel in Canada: Towards a Typology.

Public safety personnel (PSP) are frequently exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs) which can impact mental health. To help mitigate the negative effects of PPTEs, PSP commonly rely on peer support. Peer support generally refers to a wide variety of mental health resources that offer social or emotional assistance to a peer, and in some cases professional assistance. Despite the use of and demand for peer support, there is relatively little empirical evidence regarding effectiveness. The evidence gaps regarding peer support effectiveness may be due, in part, to inadequate guidelines and standards of practice that are publicly supported by a consensus among peer support providers. The current study was designed to explore the current conceptualization and implementation of peer support among Canadian PSP using a document analysis. The results indicate that peer support can be conceptualized via three models (i.e., peer-enabled, peer-led, peer-partnership) and implemented via two delivery methods (i.e., program, service). The research team proposed a novel diagram towards a typology of peer support to highlight the diversity in peer support conceptualization and implementation and provide a foundation for the development of mutually agreed-upon language and a shared framework. Overall, the current study can help inform peer support resources within and beyond PSP communities.

Evaluation of a Skills Enhancement Training Intervention With Remote Coaching for Young Adults Providing Peer Support.

This column reports on a study that investigated a skills enhancement and role clarification training intervention for young adult peer support specialists (YPSSs). Young adults who had received intensive mental health services—including young adults who had experience as YPSSs—were partners in developing the intervention and in completing all aspects of the study. Study participants were YPSSs who were already providing one-on-one, person-centered planning in community settings before the study. The results, based on YPSSs’ self-reports and rated video recordings of YPSSs’ practice, showed postintervention gains in participants’ skills and confidence in providing person-centered planning to the young people they worked with as well as reduced job-related anxiety and high training satisfaction.

Healthcare provider perspectives on integrating peer support in non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease care: a mixed methods study

BackgroundPeer support complements traditional models of chronic kidney disease (CKD) care through sharing of peer experiences, pragmatic advice, and resources to enhance chronic kidney disease self-management and decision-making. As peer support is variably offered and integrated into multi-disciplinary CKD care, we aimed to characterize healthcare providers’ experiences and views on peer support provision for people with non-dialysis-dependent CKD within Canada.MethodsIn this concurrent mixed methods study, we used a self-administered online survey to collect information from multi-disciplinary CKD clinic providers (e.g., nurses, nephrologists, allied health professionals) on peer support awareness, program characteristics and processes, perceived value, and barriers and facilitators to offering peer support in CKD clinics. Results were analyzed descriptively. We undertook semi-structured interviews with a sample of survey respondents to elaborate on perspectives about peer support in CKD care, which we analyzed using inductive, content analysis.ResultsWe surveyed 113 providers from 49 clinics. Two thirds (66%) were aware of formal peer support programs, of whom 19% offered in-house peer support through their clinic. Peer support awareness differed by role and region, and most referrals were made by social workers. Likert scale responses suggested a high perceived need of peer support for people with CKD. Top cited barriers to offering peer support included lack of peer support access and workload demands, while facilitators included systematic clinic processes for peer support integration and alignment with external programs. Across 18 interviews, we identified themes related to peer support awareness, logistics, and accessibility and highlighted a need for integrated support pathways.ConclusionsOur findings suggest variability in awareness and availability of peer support among Canadian multi-disciplinary CKD clinics. An understanding of the factors influencing peer support delivery will inform strategies to optimize its uptake for people with advanced CKD.

Getting Help: Findings from Two World Cafés with Youth who Experience Homelessness

Studies indicate that youth who experience homelessness are more likely than their peers to have mental health and substance use concerns. The objective of this study was to investigate youth views of ideal services and service provision environments that facilitate help seeking. Data were collected from two World Café events in Canada where youth (n=14) were asked to discuss their experiences with housing, mental health and addictions services. The discussions were captured visually by a graphic recorder and on paper tablecloths that were drawn and written on by the youth. These visual data, along with field notes prepared by the research team, were analyzed. The findings indicated that barriers to help seeking included stigma, institutional distrust and fear, negative relationships, and the lack of self-awareness. Facilitators included positive therapeutic relationships, services with the capacity to offer care, and non-judgmental environments. Youth wanted services that provide peer support, allow them to participate more in their care decisions, and use self-directed healing strategies. Service providers and policymakers should offer programming that facilitates youth access. They should consider the barriers that youth experience and seek to construct interventions for youth that are judgement free, confidential, and actively engage youth in their own care.

Volunteer-Based Social Support Structures and Program Exposure Outcomes in an Adolescent Young Adult Palliative Care Peer Support Program.

Objective: To conduct a social network analysis (SNA) of patient-volunteer networks and assess the impact of patient characteristics on network measures. Background: Volunteers play a critical role in providing peer support to adolescent and young adult (AYA) palliative care patients. Streetlight at UF Health is a peer support palliative care program for hospitalized AYAs that aims at forming positive peer relationships through volunteer visits, events, and a virtual online health community. Methods: Data were collected on patient characteristics, hospitalizations, average length of stays (LOS), and volunteer visitation records. Egocentric SNAs were conducted on each patient to calculate network outcomes. Study participants were AYA patients (N = 69), enrolled in the US-based Streetlight program at UF Health Shands Hospital. Results: The LOS was significantly associated with network size (B = 0.583; 95% confidence interval; CI [0.463 to 0.702]). Autoimmune patients had smaller network sizes when controlling for LOS. Total hospital admissions predicted - 0.172 ([- 0.263 to - 0.080]) lower average repeat visits. Higher average repeat visits were predicted for patients who had cancer (B = 0.246 [0.046 to 0.447]) and awaiting organ transplantation (B = 0.370 [0.082 to 0.658]). Although cystic fibrosis patients received more visits (B = 0.364 [0.003 to 0.724]) compared with other illness populations, the network density was lower (B = - 0.580 [1.01 to - 0.155]). Cancer patients had networks with a higher diversity in volunteer repeat visits (B = 0.714 [0.312 to 0.920]). Conclusions: Significant relationships between patient characteristics and network outcomes highlight the differences in social support service delivery among diverse populations. These analyses can be utilized in practice to guide program delivery for high-need patients.

Clients’ Perspectives Regarding Peer Support Providers’ Roles and Support for Client Access to and Use of Publicly Funded Mental Health Programs Serving Transition-Age Youth in Two Southern California Counties

Peer providers are increasingly used by mental health programs to engage transition age youth (TAY, age 16-24) living with serious mental illness. This study elicited TAY clients’ perspectives on peer providers’ roles, responsibilities, and contribution to TAYs’ use of mental health services. In 2019, six focus groups were conducted with TAY clients (n=24) receiving publicly funded mental health services in Southern California. Results from this analysis included four themes that illustrated the role of peers as perceived by TAY clients, including: 1) building client–peer provider relationships, 2) engaging with mental health services, 3) role-modelling recovery and supporting skill acquisition to instill hope and empowerment, and 4) peer roles and experiences specific to racial/ethnic concordance. These findings provide needed perspectives on the evolving role of peer providers in mental health services programming for TAY clients.

Designing Supportive e-Interventions for Partners of Men With Prostate Cancer Using Female Partners' Experiences: Qualitative Exploration Study.

BackgroundPartners of men living with prostate cancer (PCa) can experience a variety of unmet needs that are largely unaddressed by health care professionals. There is limited evidence to suggest which approach may be most effective in supporting partners’ unmet needs and further research is required to determine how to provide support to caregivers and how technology solutions can be designed.ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the experience of partners of men living with PCa and their perceptions of the potential role of information technology in supporting their needs.MethodsA qualitative descriptive methodology using focus groups and phone interviews was used. Purposive sampling was used to recruit people attending a national conference supported by a national PCa organization. Interview guides were adapted from an existing evidence-based smartphone app for caregivers of people with colorectal cancer. Sessions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. A coding framework was developed, and transcripts were coded line by line into the framework. Codes within the framework were grouped into descriptive categories that were then developed into analytical themes.ResultsA total of 17 female partners participated in the study, with an average age of 64 (SD 8.5) years. The following two main themes emerged: In the first theme, that is, How technology can be shaped to support female partners of prostate cancer survivors, the content and design of the smartphone app was discussed in addressing female partners’ needs. The following four subthemes were developed: getting support from social networks and resources, the lack of relevant information, demystifying future care expectations during and following a PCa diagnosis, and delivering the smartphone app—to whom and from whom. In the second theme, that is, The benefits and barriers of technology, the suitability of smartphone apps as a supportive modality for female partners was described. This included three subthemes: the smartphone app as an appropriate modality for supporting female partners, the future anticipated benefits of using the smartphone app, and concerns for storing and accessing information on the internet.ConclusionsA smartphone app may be a suitable modality for providing information and peer support to female partners of men living with PCa. There is a need to provide peer support for female partners in future interventions to ensure that female partners’ intimacy and daily practical needs are met.

A Person-Centered Approach Understanding Stroke Survivor and Family Caregiver Emotional Health.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to incorporate a person-centered approach to understand the emotional health needs and perspectives of stroke survivors (SSs) and their caregivers. METHODS: In collaboration with 4 SSs and caregivers as research partners, quantitative data were collected to assess poststroke emotional health needs, and qualitative data were collected to gain insight into SS and caregiver emotional health perspectives after stroke. RESULTS: Forty surveys (n = 26 SSs, n = 14 caregivers) were collected. The predominate emotional health needs were frustration (65%), anxiety (54%), and stress (50%) for SSs and stress (71%), worry (57%), and frustration (57%) for caregivers. Two group interviews (n = 7 SSs, n = 3 caregivers) were completed. Four emerging themes were identified: receiving support from those in similar situations, poststroke emotional responses, situations experienced in healthcare settings, and a hypervigilance for sudden and unexpected events. CONCLUSION: Emotional healthcare services for SSs and their caregivers may consider providing reoccurring mental health education and multifaceted treatment approaches, including provision of peer support, and addressing the unique emotional stressors SSs and caregivers may be experiencing. The small sample size precludes generalizing the results into the broader stroke population. However, by leveraging the lived experience of SSs and their caregivers, the results may help find ways to support SSs' and caregivers' emotional health.

The impact of peer support on testing, linkage to and engagement in HIV care for people who inject drugs in Indonesia: qualitative perspectives from a community-led study

IntroductionPeople who use, including those who inject, drugs in Indonesia are disproportionately affected by HIV, but tend to be diagnosed at a late stage of infection, delay initiation to and have poor rates of retention in antiretroviral treatment, resulting in high rates of morbidity and mortality. In addition to legal, policy and health system barriers, PWID may be hesitant to engage in HIV, treatment and care due to lack of knowledge, distrust of the health care system, and stigma related to their dual drug use and HIV status. Implementation of formal peer support initiatives may reduce provider- and individual-level barriers and increase testing, linkage to, and engagement in HIV care among people who use drugs.MethodsWe conducted a community-led qualitative study to explore the impacts of peer support for people who inject drugs on HIV care access and engagement in Indonesia. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 participants in Jakarta and Bandung. Thematic analysis was used to explore how people who inject drugs living with HIV (PWID LHIV) (n = 8), peer support workers (n = 6), and service providers (n = 6) perceived peer support provision by non-governmental organisations.ResultsParticipants unanimously described peer support as beneficial. Peer support workers were widely credited with facilitating access to HIV testing, referral to care, uptake of and adherence to antiretroviral treatment, as well as sustaining engagement in care for PWID. Support mechanisms that facilitated positive peer experiences included provision of HIV knowledge and awareness, emotional support, help with navigating complex bureaucracy, developing trust in health care services, enhancing confidence and motivation, and supporting peers to navigate a wide range of health and social welfare services beyond HIV-related care.ConclusionsFindings indicate that peer support can enhance access to testing, linkage to, and engagement in HIV care for people who use drugs living with HIV in Indonesia. In a context of an ongoing HIV epidemic among people who use drugs, reduced funding and policy attention to HIV and harm reduction, there is an urgent need to prioritize peer support interventions to identify people who use drugs facing health risks and link them to appropriate services.

The Reciprocity of Peer-Mediated Interventions: Examining Outcomes for Peers

Peer-mediated interventions are an evidence-based practice for enhancing the social and learning outcomes of students with autism and other developmental disabilities. However, little is known about the peers who participate in these interventions or the ways they are impacted through their involvement. In this pilot study, we examined changes in academic and behavioral outcomes of 204 peers involved in a semester-long peer partners program at eight public high schools. Although the majority of peer partners were female, these volunteers varied widely in their academic and behavioral profiles the semester prior to their involvement in Peer to Peer. Overall, peer partners experienced increases in their overall GPAs (d = 0.34), and daily attendance (d = 0.56) after one semester of involvement. Modest decreases in behavioral referrals and suspensions were evident only among the subset of peer partners who previously had such infractions. After two semesters of involvement, improvements were evident in all four areas for the subset of students for whom these data were available: GPA (d = 0.42), absences (d = 0.26), behavior referrals (d = 0.46) and suspensions (d = 0.37). We discuss the importance of reciprocity within these widely advocated interventions and offer recommendations for research and practice. Impact Statement This study describes the characteristics and reciprocity of outcomes for high school peers who participate as peer partners alongside students with autism or other developmental disabilities. The majority of peer partners in this study experienced positive academic and behavioral outcomes when participating in these programs, with improved GPAs, increased attendance, decreased behavior referrals and decreased suspensions during the semester they provided peer support. This suggests that program coordinators, school psychologists, and other school staff should actively seek to involve diverse peer partners in their programs by including students with academic or behavioral challenges, rather than only high-achieving students. Peer-mediated interventions are not only beneficial for students with disabilities, but involvement can also impact outcomes for at-risk peers.

Workshop Compiled

Aims: 1. To orient psychiatrists in understanding the increasing need of support groups for psychiatric disorders for various types of target populations.2. To train psychiatrists to design and structure support groups addressing the different concerns.3. To share tips on the practical logistical & social media aspects of conducting support groups in the Indian context.4. To enhance skills of reaching out to individuals with mental illness and their caregivers. Outline:Support groups or self-help groups for mental health are one of the most common types of research based support available. While qualitative research shows positive evidence and quantitative research shows mixed evidence when it comes to showing favourable effects on the symptoms and the social functioning of patients(1), there is still inadequate effort directed towards researching about and running support groups given the mental health burden and the treatment gap observed in the Indian context. Unfortunately, the processes which impact the recovery processes involvement in self-help groups are not fully understood and hence it stands as one of the major hurdles in being recommended as part of treatment.(2) Researchers and mental health consumer advocates argue that the approach to recovery from mental illness should emphasize not just on the symptoms of the disorder but also on the ‘life-context’ of these individuals.(3) Hence, recovery should be described not merely as some end-point, but a social-psychological process.(4) These trainer-facilitated but member governed groups provide social support and knowledge by interaction with peers probably experiencing similar symptoms and in many ways finding acceptance by their “own”. This important step provides cognitive changes that improve the quality of the stigmatized individual’s life.(5) Peer services allow very high levels of acceptance and understanding which no other professional relationship could possibly reciprocate. (6)The covid pandemic has been mentally exhausting for majority people and has also exacerbated or worsened a lot of psychiatric disorders. During this time, although psychological help was available, it was remote or difficult for everyone to approach and the need for support groups has surfaced. Considering this need, many poorly directed online support groups have mushroomed.Unfortunately in India, there is a paucity of peer support service in providing mental health service to a large extent. Surprisingly, there is no provision of peer support in either government programs like the National Mental Program or the National Health Policy of India considering the fact that it will require a good level of funding and investment. (6)With this aspect in mind, this workshop would include training psychiatrists to design and conduct well-functioning and professionally supervised support groups. This workshop would include presentations, personal experiences of conducting support groups, oral discussions and group activities to empower psychiatrists to tap into this much needed resource for recovery of patients with mental illness. 1. Pistrang N, Baker C, Humphreys K. Mutual help groups for mental health problems: A review of effectiveness studies. American Journal of Community Psychology. 2008;42:110–1121.2. Brown LD, Lucksted A. Theoretical foundations of mental health self-help. In: Brown L, Wituk S, editors. Mental Health Self-Help. Springer; New York: 2010. pp. 19–383. Ralph RO, Corrigan PW. Recovery and mental illness: Consumer visions and research paradigms. American Psychological Association; Washington, DC: 2005.4. Markowitz FE. Sociological models of recovery. In: Ralph RO, Corrigan PW, editors. Recovery and mental illness: Consumer visions and research paradigms. American Psychological Association; Washington, DC: 2005. pp. 85–1005. Jacobs MK, Goodman G. Psychology and self-help groups. American Psychologist. 1989;44:536–545.6. Goutam, Neeti. “IMPORTANCE OF 'PEER-SUPPORT'SERVICES FROM A MENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.” (2020).

Predictors of worklife burnout among mental health certified peer specialists.

Certified peer specialists (CPSs) are a growing workforce that uses their lived experience of a behavioral health disorders plus skills learned in formal training to deliver support services. Despite their important role in the mental health care system and research on their working conditions, experiences of burnout have not been widely studied among CPSs. This study uses survey data from CPSs who were currently employed in any type of job, providing peer support services or not. Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS), along with other measures of personal and job characteristics, relationships of predictors variables to burnout measures were described in unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models. Scores on each of the averaged burnout measures differed significantly between those employed in peer services jobs and those in other job types, with those in peer services jobs reporting lower exhaustion, cynicism, and higher professional efficacy. Better workload and fairness were associated with significantly lower exhaustion, and better reward and community were both associated with significantly lower cynicism. Those employed in peer services jobs had fewer signs of burnout than those in other occupations, in keeping with prior research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Implementation of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Second Victim Peer Support Program

Second victimhood, a phenomenon experienced by about half of health care providers, occurs when an individual experiences negative physical, psychological, or emotional effects after an adverse event, such as patient-related near miss, harm, or death. The stress of anesthesia practice increases the incidence of this phenomenon among anesthesia providers. Second victimhood increases turnover, absenteeism, and risk of medical error. This project aimed to decrease second victim distress among certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) by implementing a peer support program - second victims are more likely to use peer support over commonly offered support services. A quality improvement project. Eight volunteer CRNAs were trained to provide peer support 24-hours a day. CRNAs needing peer support could self-identify or be identified by a colleague, peer supporter, or lead CRNA, and could locate the peer supporter on call in the electronic anesthesia dashboard. Pre- and post-implementation second victim distress were assessed using the Second Victim Experience and Support Tool, a validated survey that measures distress symptoms and perceived institutional support. Although differences in pre- and post-implementation survey scores were statistically insignificant, the program was welcomed by leadership and staff. The program experienced higher utilization compared to similar launch studies, with eight encounters in the first month. Impact on staff morale is expected to increase; long-term peer support can improve provider well-being and patient outcomes.

Addressing Opioid Misuse Among Veterans: A Peer-Delivered Opioid Prevention Curriculum

Opioid use disorder (OUD) disproportionately affects military Veterans, who are more likely than the general population to experience chronic pain. A community–academic partnership launched a community-engaged research (CEnR) project designed to train Veteran peer mentor specialists to prevent and reduce opioid abuse among Veterans. A series of focus groups were conducted to obtain community input for the development of an opioid prevention curriculum to be utilized by peer mentor specialists. The focus group participants’ experiences contributed to nuanced perspectives that fostered appreciation of knowledge and service gaps by using a CEnR approach. The themes that emerged informed a curriculum with key concepts related to opioid abuse and recovery for peer mentor specialists providing peer support for Veterans. Integrating research with community input and partnerships optimizes the opportunity to address aspects of OUD experienced by Veterans and closes a significant gap in this area of study and practice.

Cikkismertetés: Depressziós fórumok témáinak automatizált szövegelemzése a depresszió biopszichoszociális modelljének tükrében

Online depression forums hold many potentials: beside providing information to those, who have otherwise difficulties of seeking advice; they also play a much needed intermediator role by translating expert knowledge to lay language, which is particularly important in the process of establishing acceptable ‘illness narratives’; finally, they provide peer support, which has the potential of establishing missing intersubjectivities. The aim of the research is to analyze the specific discursive functions of the biomedical, psychological and social narratives.  

Implementing a successful proactive telephone breastfeeding peer support intervention: volunteer recruitment, training, and intervention delivery in the RUBY randomised controlled trial

BackgroundThe RUBY randomised controlled trial demonstrated the benefit of proactive telephone peer support in promoting breastfeeding continuation in a setting with high breastfeeding initiation, where typically this is difficult to achieve. This paper describes the implementation and delivery of the peer support intervention with a focus on recruitment, training, and support of peer volunteers, and includes a description of the key components of the calls.MethodsData collection occurred between December 2012 and June 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. Volunteers completed enrolment forms at the training session and recorded data related to each call in a Call Log maintained for each mother supported. Data were summarised using descriptive statistics and responses to open-ended questions analysed using content analysis.ResultsA total of 693 women expressed interest in the peer support role, with 246 completing training, that is, 95% of whom supported at least one mother. Each supported a mean of two mothers (range 1 to 11). Training session topics included respecting individual values, using positive language, confidence building, active listening, empathetic support, and normal baby behaviour. There were 518 periods of support where at least one call was made between a volunteer and a mother to whom she was allocated. Of the 518 periods of support, 359 Call Logs (69%) were returned. The 359 call logs recorded a total of 2398 calls between peers and mothers. Call length median duration was 12 min (range 1 to 111 min). Volunteers perceived the most valued aspects of the calls were the provsion of ‘general emotional support’ (51%) and ‘general information/discussion about breastfeeding’ (44%). During the first call, mothers raised questions about ‘nipple pain/ damage’ (24%) and 'general breastfeeding information’ (23%). At ≥12 weeks postpartum, issues raised related to ‘normal infant behaviour’ (22%), ‘feed frequency’ (16%), and ‘general breastfeeding information’ (15%). Volunteers referred women to other resources during 28% of calls, most commonly to the Australian Breastfeeding Association.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that the RUBY trial was feasible and sustainable in terms of recruiting volunteers who were willing to participate in training and who proceeded to provide peer support. Call content was responsive to the evolving breastfeeding information needs of mothers and the provision of emotional support was perceived by volunteers to be important.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN 12612001024831.

Coming together to find meaningful solutions to reduce deconditioning in the clinical setting #ActiveWards

Purpose: Patients tell us they want to be more active during a hospital stay. In the acute hospital environment deconditioning is a major risk factor with around 90% of the day spent sitting/lying. As experts in activity and movement, a Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Active Wards Special Interest Group (SIG) was formed to provide peer support and act as a platform for sharing resources and ideas for increasing opportunities for physical activity in the in-patient setting and avoid duplication and allow change to be clinician-led.

Trained Volunteers With Type 2 Diabetes Experience Significant Health Benefits When Providing Peer Support

Trained lay volunteers may have value in supporting lifestyle change programs in the prevention of type 2 diabetes, but the potential health benefits (or harms) experienced by these lay volunteers have not been well described. This is important, as this is an appealing model in terms of workforce planning. The aim of the prespecified quantitative study reported here, was to examine the possible health benefits or harms experienced by these trained lay volunteers with type 2 diabetes. In a large type 2 diabetes prevention program, we recruited and trained 104 lay volunteers with type 2 diabetes themselves, to act as diabetes prevention mentors and codeliver the lifestyle intervention. Mentors made motivational telephone calls to 461 participants randomized to one of the trial arms to encourage lifestyle changes. Weight, diet, physical activity, well-being, quality of life, diabetes-specific self-efficacy, and glycaemic control were measured at baseline, 12 and 24 months. Average mentor age was 62.0 years, 57 (54.8%) were male, 92 (88.5%) were overweight or obese (BMI>30 kg/m2). At 12 months, mentor dietary behaviors (fat and fiber intake) improved significantly, sedentary time spent fell significantly, and diabetes specific self-efficacy scores significantly increased. These significant improvements, with no evidence of harms, suggest lay volunteers with type 2 diabetes codelivering a lifestyle intervention, may themselves experience health benefits from volunteering.