Support Group Intervention Research Articles

A multilevel modeling analysis of community-based mental health and psychosocial support group intervention for refugee newcomers in the United States.

A multilevel modeling analysis of community-based mental health and psychosocial support group intervention for refugee newcomers in the United States.

Supplemental Material for A Multilevel Modeling Analysis of Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Group Intervention for Refugee Newcomers in the United States

Supplemental Material for A Multilevel Modeling Analysis of Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Group Intervention for Refugee Newcomers in the United States

Evaluating the efficacy of support groups in the metaverse for Ukrainian refugees: a protocol for a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundThe Ukrainian crisis, sparked by the Russian invasion, has generated one of the most extensive refugee crises in modern history. Addressing the mental health challenges of Ukrainian refugees is critical to promoting their resilience and successful integration into host communities. Traditional support group interventions might be challenging to implement for geographically dispersed populations, making the metaverse an innovative and inclusive platform for providing much-needed support to such populations.Methods/designDisplaced Ukrainian refugee adults (18 years or older) without current psychiatric diagnoses or current involvement in therapeutic interventions are included in the study. Participants are randomized to one of three conditions: (1) Metaverse Support Groups, (2) In-Person Support Groups, or (3) Waitlist. Both intervention groups (Metaverse and In-Person) undergo 5 support group sessions, and data are collected at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Primary outcomes are depressive symptomatology and anxiety. Secondary outcomes are perceived social support, well-being, and gender-based violence awareness.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is the first attempt to test the efficacy of support groups in the Metaverse for the Ukrainian refugee population. This study can thus add substantially to the body of knowledge on effective interventions and policies for refugees.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06142032 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06142032). Registered on November 8, 2023.

P022 A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS FOR NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SELF-MANAGEMENT IN KATHMANDU DISTRICT OF NEPAL

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the primary contributors to mortality and, therefore, considered a major public health problem. Community support group (CSG) interventions are advocated as cost-effective strategies for managing NCDs like diabetes and hypertension. While these interventions are globally popular in fostering self-help and motivation for adopting healthy practices, their effectiveness and feasibility in Nepal are poorly assessed. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of creating community support groups to manage NCDs, particularly diabetes and hypertension; conducting regular meetings; and understanding the preliminary impact of CSG meetings on NCD self-management behaviors. Methods: A pre-post interventional study was conducted in Kathmandu district, Nepal, using a mixed-method approach. CSGs were formed for individuals aged 40 and above, diagnosed with hypertension and/or diabetes. Each of these groups convened twice monthly over three months, focusing on self-management practices related to diet, physical activity, medication adherence, self-monitoring, and foot care. Baseline and end-line surveys measured the initial impact, while qualitative data from meeting discussions and in-depth interviews captured patient perspectives and meeting acceptability. Quantitative analysis involved descriptive statistics, chi-square, and t-tests, while thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data. Results: Of the total 41 participants in the study, 80% (mean age: 60.1 years) were female. The attendance in the group meetings ranged from 70% to 90%. Post-intervention, significant improvements were noted in blood pressure and weight. Qualitative findings revealed strong acceptance of CSG meetings, fostering information exchange and shared learning that could motivate self-management behavior changes. While participants acknowledged potential challenges in regular meeting attendance, such as finding common interests for collaborative activities, most found facilitator-led sessions interesting and promising. Homogenous groups, due to shared demands, are more inclined to engage in collaborative activities. Conclusion: This study suggests the potential effectiveness of support group activities for self-managing NCDs in Nepal. Large scale randomized controlled trial are recommended to assess the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of this approach.

Support Group dalam Menurunkan Tingkat Stres pada Caregiver Skizofrenia

One of the cases experienced by schizophrenia caregivers is stress. One intervention to reduce stress levels in schizophrenia caregivers is a support group. Support groups are carried out with peer groups who have relatively similar problems by sharing information about the problems experienced by schizophrenia caregivers. This research aims to reduce the level of stress felt by caregivers of schizophrenia, using a quasi-experiment and using 6 research subjects consisting of 5 female subjects and 1 male subject who have moderate to severe stress level scores. The data collection method was carried out using the Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale (KCSS) and analysis used the Repeated Measured Anova Test. The results of the support group intervention showed that caregivers experienced significant changes (p<0.05) in terms of reducing stress levels before and after providing support group therapy. This study has important implications for the implementation of support groups in reducing stress levels among caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia. It can be concluded that support groups are effective in lowering stress levels in schizophrenia caregivers.

Evaluation of the Friendship Bench’ Circle Kubatana Tose (CKT): an add-on support group intervention – a mixed-methods pilot interventional cohort study protocol

IntroductionMental disorders are endemic. However, the mental health treatment gap remains high, especially in low-resource settings. Task-shifting is a universally recommended strategy to mitigate the care gap. The Friendship Bench...

Psychologic Distress in Diabetic Patients

Diabetes mellitus presents a growing global health challenge, impacting millions and imposing significant burdens on individuals and healthcare systems alike. Diabetes distress encompasses the negative emotional impact of living with diabetes and holds significant clinical relevance, as it correlates with suboptimal self-care and glycemic control. This review explores the multifaceted relationship between diabetes and psychosocial factors, focusing on the concept of diabetes distress and its profound implications for patient well-being and disease management. As the prevalence of diabetes continues to rise, understanding and addressing the emotional toll of the condition becomes increasingly critical. Moreover, it explores the intricate dynamics of diabetes distress, self-care behaviors, and metabolic outcomes, emphasizing the importance of tailored interventions to alleviate distress and improve patient adherence and glycemic control. Greater diabetes distress correlates with detrimental medical and psychological outcomes, including suboptimal self-management behaviors such as reduced physical activity, unhealthy eating habits, medication non-adherence, and infrequent blood glucose monitoring. It's associated with elevated A1C levels, increased risk of severe hypoglycemia, and diminished quality of life. Identification of diabetes distress is crucial, with validated screening tools available to aid clinicians in this process. Various management strategies are outlined, ranging from psychological interventions to effective patient-provider communication and supportive group interventions. By integrating psychosocial care into diabetes management, healthcare professionals can better address the holistic needs of patients, ultimately enhancing their quality of life and overall well-being. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, psychological distress, Diabetic distress

Zoom & WhatsApp digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) enhance community engaged research with women immigrants from Mexico

ABSTRACT This article demonstrates how digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) (Zoom/WhatsApp) unexpectedly and counterintuitively proved to be valuable tools for community-engaged health research when, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were integrated into a research study testing a peer support group intervention with female immigrants from Mexico. Because of pandemic restrictions, we changed the study protocol to hold meetings remotely via Zoom rather than in person as originally planned. Because we recognized that this would lack some opportunities for participants to interact and develop relationships, we created a WhatsApp chat for each group. Despite challenges for participants to use ICTs and participant-stated preference for in-person meetings, the results demonstrated that participants overwhelmingly endorsed these technologies as promoting access, participation, engagement, and satisfaction. Zoom/WhatsApp created a valuable environment both as a method for conducting research with this population, but also as part of the intervention for immigrant women to support and learn from each other. ICT adaptations have now permanently changed the way we conduct community-engaged health research.

Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing a Community-Based Psychosocial Support Intervention Conducted In-Person and Remotely: A Qualitative Study in Quibdó, Colombia.

Community-based psychosocial support group (CB-PSS) interventions using task-shifting approaches are well suited to provide culturally appropriate services in low- and middle-income countries. However, contextual barriers and facilitators must be considered to tailor interventions effectively, particularly considering the challenges introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. We explore the barriers, facilitators, and psychosocial changes associated with implementing a CB-PSS group intervention delivered by local lay providers to conflict-affected adults in Quibdó, Colombia, using both in-person and remote modalities. Data were analyzed from 25 individual interviews with participants and a focus group discussion involving staff members, including 7 community psychosocial agent facilitators and 2 mental health professional supervisors. The analysis used a thematic approach grounded in a descriptive phenomenology to explore the lived experiences of participants and staff members during implementation. Participant attendance in the in-person modality was compromised by factors such as competing work and family responsibilities and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants in the remote modality faced challenges concerning unstable Internet connectivity, recurrent power outages caused by heavy rain, distractions, interruptions, and threats to confidentiality by family and coworkers. Despite these challenges, data revealed key contextual facilitators, including the community-based knowledge of facilitators and integration of traditional practices, such as the comadreo (informal talks and gatherings). Respondents shared that the CB-PSS groups promoted stronger community relationships and created opportunities for participants to exchange peer support, practice leadership skills, develop problem-solving skills based on peers' experiences, and enhance emotional regulation skills. Differences and similarities across in-person and remote modalities are discussed, as are key considerations for practitioners and policymakers.

The effect of virtual interactive nurse-led support group intervention on fatigue, shock anxiety, and acceptance of implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients: a randomized trial

BackgroundImplantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), as a gold and standard treatment for fatal cardiac arrhythmia, may lead to some physical and psychological problems for the patients. Therefore, performing some interventions to reduce or eliminate these issues is crucial. This study aimed to determine the effect of virtual interactive nurse-led support group intervention on fatigue, shock anxiety, and acceptance of ICD patients.MethodsThis is a clinical trial study on 72 patients with ICD. They were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 36) and control (n = 36) groups. A virtual interactive nurse-led support group intervention through WhasApp was performed for one month. Multidimensional fatigue inventory, Florida Shock Anxiety Scale, and Florida Patient Acceptance Scale were used. Data were analyzed to perform the analysis of data through SPSS, using independent and paired-t test, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, and ANCOVA.ResultsBefore the intervention, no significant difference was observed between the two groups with regard to fatigue, shock anxiety, and ICD acceptance. However, after the intervention, a significant difference was found between the two groups with regard to fatigue, shock anxiety, and ICD acceptance (P < 0.05).ConclusionThis study showed that virtual interactive nurse-led support group intervention reduced fatigue and shock anxiety and improved the ICD acceptance.Practice implicationsThis flexible, accessible, and interactive nurse-led support group intervention is suggested to be used for ICD patients.Trial registrationThis trial was registered and approved by Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (Trial Id: 60,738, date: (24/02/2022). (https://www.irct.ir/trial/60738).

Support Group Intervention on Self-Awareness and Parental Coping Strategies as an Effort to Prevent Sexual Violence in Children

Background: The victims, primarily female children, have suffered sexual abuse, often perpetrated by individuals known to them, such as neighbors or acquaintances. In interviews with concerned parents regarding ongoing cases of sexual abuse, they expressed fears about their children falling victim to such incidents.. The research aim was to assess the effectiveness of support group interventions in enhancing self-awareness and parental coping strategies as preventive measures against child sexual abuse. Methods: The study's main objective is to evaluate the impact of Support Groups in improving Self-Awareness and Parental Coping Strategies. It employed a quasi-experimental design using a non-equivalent group pre-test and post-test methodology, with one group as the control and the other as the experimental group. The study included 70 respondents in the intervention group and an equal number in the control group, selected through purposive sampling. Research instruments comprised the Revised Ways of Coping Scale questionnaire for coping strategies and a self-awareness questionnaire. Non-parametric data analysis was conducted using SPSS, specifically the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Results: Results of the normality test indicated that both the intervention and control groups had p-values of less than 0.05 for coping strategies (0.002 for the intervention group and 0.003 for the control group) and self-awareness (0.000 for both groups), suggesting non-normal data distribution. Consequently, non-parametric statistical analysis was applied with SPSS, and a significance level was set at p &lt; 0.05. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test results for the intervention group were 0.000 (coping strategies) and 0.000 (self-awareness), signifying a significant difference in average pretest and posttest scores within the intervention group. Conversely, the control group's Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test results were 0.953 (coping strategies) and 0.317 (self-awareness), indicating no significant difference in average pretest and posttest scores within the control group. Conclusion: Based on the research findings and discussion, it can be deduced that support group interventions positively impact the enhancement of parental coping strategies and self-awareness in the endeavor to prevent child sexual abuse.

The support group impact on enhancing the self-worth of women who terminated a pregnancy in adolescence.

Terminating a pregnancy can be a traumatic life event, resulting in negative emotions that can diminish women's self-worth. Support from different sources, including health support groups, could be beneficial in restoring a woman's self-worth. This article aimed to present findings on the impact of a support group intervention on the self-worth of women who terminated a pregnancy in adolescence. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive approach, using in-depth, semi-structured interviews, was used to collect data. Thematic analysis guided the data analysis. Five themes emerged from the data: reasons for joining the support group; enhanced emotional and physical wellbeing; self-forgiveness; spiritual growth and participants' voices. Participants described why they needed to join the support group. It became clear that the intercession was effective in the short term as it enhanced participants' self-worth by encouraging them to accept themselves thereby altering their self-condemning emotions, replacing them with self-love.Contribution:The study recommends that a support group should be considered as a backup for women who terminated a pregnancy and have lost their self-worth.

USING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO DEVELOP, TEST, AND IMPLEMENT INTERVENTIONS FOR DEMENTIA CARE PARTNERS

Abstract Interventions for caregivers to persons living with dementia are numerous and target a wide array of outcomes. One challenge limiting the dissemination of research-based interventions is the complexity of translating the intervention models for a variety of community environments and situations. Interventions that plan for future translation and scalability during the development stages have a better chance of quickly and efficiently being adopted by community partners. This symposium describes the methods used and the lessons learned from five research projects that used various forms of community engagement to develop, adapt, and assess feasibility of caregiver interventions, while simultaneously preparing for their translation and scalability: 1) Eaton et al., present the process and benefits gained from partnering with dementia caregivers to iteratively develop the Enhancing Active Caregiver Training (EnACT) intervention. 2) Utz et al., discuss ways to use the RE-AIM implementation framework to guide the development and pilot-testing of the Time for Living and Caring (TLC) respite intervention. 3) Dassel et al., explore the use of community-based participatory methods to adapt a paper-based advance care planning guide to an interactive web-based LEAD (Life-Planning in Early Alzheimer’s and other Dementias) intervention. 4) Cotton et al., report on the lessons learned from a formative analysis of their processes used to culturally adapt an intergenerational respite program for older adults within the Latine community. 5) Supiano et al., describe how they engaged and trained nursing home social workers to develop and implement the PreLoss Group Support intervention for dementia family care partners.

Recruitment of caregivers of persons living with dementia for an Online Support Group Programme– Learnings from India

AbstractBackgroundCaregivers of persons living with dementia (CGPwD) tend to have limited access to dementia care‐oriented support group and relevant resources. The disparity in the ratio of mental health professionals available and the number of people with dementia plays a pivotal role in care and services. Support group interventions may not be available or accessible to the vast majority, more so in the Indian context. Hence, the need to test feasibility of providingsupport via using video‐conferencing software were explored.MethodFamily caregivers of those persons living with dementia who had accessed an out‐patient facility at a Geriatric Clinic as part of a tertiary care center between January 2020 – January 2023 was screened for recruitment into a single group quasi‐experimental study (n = 341). The responses of the family caregivers were noted down along with the experience of the mental health professionals involved in the process. Content analysis (Krippendorff, 2004, Neuendorf, 2002) was carried out using Atlas.ti.9 web version.ResultThe mean age of the CGPwD was 42.5 ± 8.5 years and the mean years spent in care‐giving was 4.02 ± 1.5 years; 42.8% of the persons living with dementia had a definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and majority were in the moderate stage of illness. One‐fourth of the caregivers showed interest to sign up for the support group with the first invitation. Of them, Spousal caregivers were noted to show more interest; followed by daughters‐in‐law. Apart from technological challenges, a good number of caregivers measured d that their loved one with dementia has “improved” due to decline in challenging behaviours.ConclusionUse of technology in psychosocial interventions is a relatively new concept in LAMIC countries such as India. Therefore, familiarization and orientation of such services may pave way to increase in demand for video‐conferencing based support groups at a larger level in the near future.

Training nursing home social workers in the Pre‐loss Group Support intervention

AbstractBackgroundPre‐loss Group Support (PLGS) is a 10‐session multi‐modal, psychotherapy group intervention administered by nursing home social workers (NH‐SWs) for dementia family care partners (CPs) whose PLWD resides in a nursing home.1 While the overarching purpose of this project is to determine if telehealth‐delivered PLGS reduces risk of poor bereavement outcome in family CPs of PLWD when delivered by NH‐SWs, in this presentation we describe developing and applying the PLGS clinical training for NH‐SWs in this phase of our NIH‐Stage 52 implementation and dissemination study.MethodUsing professional actors, we created a simulated PLGS 10‐session group as a series of training videos. Training utilized our Stage‐3 PLGS Facilitator manual.3 We developed a training curriculum incorporating these video vignettes, didactic content, interactive case examples and pragmatic application concepts of PLGS for telehealth delivery to CPs by NH‐SWs. The full training is deliverable in one full day or two half day sessions and is provided on an interactive distance platform. Training was delivered to two cohorts of NH‐SWs in a stepped‐wedge design.ResultWe are evaluating this implementation study using the RE‐AIM measures.4 In this training phase, we have successfully achieved Reach—defined as buy‐in and training of NH SWs, Adoption—defined as uptake by NHs and SWs, and the first phase of Implementation—Defined as training completion. Trained NH‐SWs were assessed for satisfaction with the training. On a 7‐item satisfaction scale with a range of 3‐21, satisfaction rate was 95% (highly valuable), with 100% indicating they would recommend training to SWs in other facilities. In this session, we will share PLGS training content and procedures.ConclusionNursing home SWs are the last clinicians with opportunity to support CPs as they approach the death of their PLWD in the facility. NH‐SWs have clinical expertise to learn and implement PLGS, allowing us to simultaneously evaluate telehealth SW training acceptability, telehealth delivered PLGS outcomes. Carefully tailoring PLGS training content and delivery for NH‐SWs to equip them for telehealth implementation, engagement to recruit and retain enthusiastic SWs, and available consultation have contributed to the success of this phase in the project.

Use of Immersive Virtual Reality Spaces to Engage Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Cancer in Therapist-Guided Support Groups: Protocol for a Pre-Post Study.

For adolescents and young adults, a cancer diagnoses can magnify feelings of social isolation at an inherently vulnerable developmental stage. Prior studies have highlighted the importance of peer groups during cancer treatment. Support groups help foster connection and resilience, but patients find in-person participation difficult due to a variety of factors. Additionally, physical changes brought on by cancer makes these patients hesitant to meet in person. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified these difficulties. Virtual reality (VR) allows for the creation of a therapist-curated, computer-generated social space that potentially enables support groups for this population. This protocol describes a pilot study examining the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of a social VR support group intervention for adolescent and young adult patients with cancer. We approached 20 participants aged 17-20 years, and 16 agreed to participate. Moreover, 1 participant dropped out due to hospitalization. Participants attended virtual, professionally facilitated support groups using Meta Quest VR headsets. The groups consisted of 4 participants and 1 facilitator, amounting to a total of 22 individual sessions. Each session lasted 45-60 minutes and took place weekly for 4-6 weeks. The primary aim of this study was to collect quantitative and qualitative data on the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Feasibility was measured through session participation rates and overall retention rates. The acceptability of the intervention was explored through brief in-person interviews with participants at the end of the final intervention session. The secondary aim of this study was to collect data on the preliminary efficacy of the intervention in decreasing symptoms of participant depression and anxiety and increasing positive affect and resiliency. In total, 15 patients aged 17-20 years participated in 22 sessions between November 5, 2019, and July 8, 2021. The median age was 19 (IQR 17-20) years. Overall, 10 (62%) participants identified as male, 5 (31%) as female, and 1 (6%) as transgender female. Furthermore, 5 (31%) participants identified as Hispanic, 1 (6%) identified as non-Hispanic Asian, 3 (19%) identified as non-Hispanic Black, 6 (38%) identified as non-Hispanic White, and 1 (6%) identified as other race or ethnicity. Hematologic malignancies or bone marrow failure was the most common diagnosis (8/16, 50%). The mean attendance rate was 72.8% (SD 25.7%) and retention was 86.7% (SD 0.35%). Moreover, 45% (10/22) of sessions had to be postponed by a week or more due to unexpected participant scheduling issues. The use of VR to deliver psychosocial support for adolescents and young adults with cancer may reduce common barriers associated with attending in-person peer support groups while improving quality-of-life measures. The data from this study will inform future studies focused on conducting VR support groups in other rare disease populations, including older adults with cancer. DERR1-10.2196/48761.

Implementation Evaluation of Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Intervention for Refugee Newcomers in the United States

Refugee newcomers resettled in the United States face numerous challenges impacting their mental health and overall well-being. Despite extensive research on clinical interventions, multimodal interventions with peer-based group models in resettlement contexts remain scarce. Adopting a realist evaluation approach, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive implementation evaluation of a complex community-based mental health and psychosocial support (CB-MHPSS) group intervention, examining its mechanisms and processes while considering the interplay among context, implementing agents, and community settings. Qualitative and quantitative data on the implementation process were collected from 11 refugee agencies, involving trained resettlement staffers (n = 32) and refugee community facilitators (n = 31) who implemented the 31 CB-MHPSS psychosocial groups in 2021. The analysis included fidelity reports, process reflections, and follow-up survey responses, utilizing a structured template based on the CB-MHPSS Theory of Change (ToC) and Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance. Results of an in-depth exploration of complex relations between context and implementation processes reveal the vital role that adaptability to socio-ecological circumstances during the global coronavirus pandemic played in achieving successful implementation of psychosocial group interventions. Striking a balance between fidelity and refinement of intervention of the intervention curriculum emerged as crucial factors for aligning facilitation goals with newcomer needs. This approach maintained the integrity and appropriateness of the intervention, requiring implementers to utilize local knowledge of community resources and their understanding of lived experience of forced migrants and their within the community. Furthermore, exploring intervention barriers and facilitators revealed merits aligned with program change theories and areas for adjustment, while cataloged guidelines addressed community needs, showcasing competence beyond standard checkboxes. Strategic dissemination guidance provided by the central office in a supportive and nonintrusive manner facilitated uptake in a participatory and context-specific manner. This study emphasizes the importance of leveraging community partnerships and local knowledge to result in sustained improvements in the mental health and well-being of refugees.

Piloting a community-based psychosocial group intervention designed to reduce distress among conflict-affected adults in Colombia: a mixed-method study of remote, hybrid, and in-person modalities during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundCommunity members in Quibdó (Choco, Colombia) are highly vulnerable to psychosocial problems associated with the internal armed conflict, poverty, and insufficient public services, and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A pilot study was conducted with conflict-affected adults in Quibdó to assess feasibility and outcomes of a community-based psychosocial support group intervention using three different intervention modalities: in-person, remote (conducted online), and hybrid (half of sessions in-person, half-remote). This group model integrated problem-solving and culturally based expressive activities and was facilitated by local community members with supervision by mental health professionals.MethodsThis study utilized a mixed-explanatory sequential design (a quantitative phase deriving in a qualitative phase) with 39 participants and 8 staff members. Participants completed quantitative interviews before and after an eight-week group intervention. A subset of 17 participants also completed in-depth qualitative interviews and a focus group discussion was conducted with staff at post-intervention.ResultsFrom pre- to post-intervention, participants in all modalities demonstrated improved wellbeing and reduced symptoms of generalized distress, anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. Use of coping skills varied across modalities, with remote groups associated with a decrease in some forms of coping, including use of social support. In qualitative interviews and the focus group discussion, participants and staff described logistical challenges and successes, as well as facilitators of change such as problem resolution, emotional regulation and social support with variations across modalities, such that remote groups provided fewer opportunities for social support and cohesion.ConclusionsResults offer preliminary evidence that this model can address psychosocial difficulties across the three modalities, while also identifying potential risks and challenges, therefore providing useful guidance for service delivery in conflict-affected settings during the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging contexts. Implications of this study for subsequent implementation of a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) are discussed.

41860 Nonpharmacologic Support Group Interventions for Cutaneous Conditions: A Systematic Review

41860 Nonpharmacologic Support Group Interventions for Cutaneous Conditions: A Systematic Review

Virtual parent-led peer support groups for parents of children with eating disorders: A mixed methods feasibility study.

To examine the feasibility of a virtual parent-led peer support group (vPLPSG) intervention for parents of children with eating disorders (EDs). Forty-four parents were invited to attend 2-h-long vPLPSG sessions every other week for 6 months. A convergent mixed methods design was used to integrate quantitative survey data (collected at three timepoints and analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA) and qualitative interview data (collected at 6 months and analyzed using content analysis) to assess intervention feasibility. Feasibility was comprised of acceptability (e.g., recruitment and retention rates, desire to continue attending the groups) and preliminary effectiveness (e.g., change in parents' self-reported burden). The recruitment rate (67%), retention rate (77%), and attendance rate (60%) demonstrated adequate acceptability. All parents expressed their recommendation of this group to other parents, and most wanted to continue attending vPLPSG sessions. Participants qualitatively reported less isolation and burden as well as improvements in skills and confidence to manage their child's symptoms. These preliminary effectiveness findings were corroborated by quantitative data, with participants reporting a significant decrease in burden [mean difference (MD) = 6.61; p < .004], increase in confidence (MD = 11.17; p < .001), and decrease in unmet needs (MD = 5.03; p < .001) from baseline to 6-months. The vPLPSG intervention demonstrated feasibility with respect to acceptability and improvements in preliminary parental outcomes. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention using a larger, more diverse sample. Dedicated efforts to support caregivers, such as through virtual parent-led peer support groups, have the potential to increase confidence and decrease burden for parents managing their child's eating disorder.