Dataset Information

Peer Support Workers in Health: A Qualitative Metasynthesis of Their Experiences.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Peer support models, where an individual has a specific illness or lifestyle experience and supports others experiencing similar challenges, have frequently been used in different fields of healthcare to successfully engage hard-to-reach groups. Despite recognition of their value, the impact of these roles on the peer has not been systematically assessed. By synthesising the qualitative literature we sought to review such an impact, providing a foundation for designing future clinical peer models.

Methods

Systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis of studies found in Medline, CINAHL or Scopus documenting peer worker experiences.

Results

1,528 papers were found, with 34 meeting the criteria of this study. Findings were synthesised to reveal core constructs of reframing identity through reciprocal relations and the therapeutic use of self, enhancing responsibility.

Conclusions

The ability of the Peer Support Worker to actively engage with other marginalised or excluded individuals based on their unique insight into their own experience supports a therapeutic model of care based on appropriately sharing their story. Our findings have key implications for maximising the effectiveness of Peer Support Workers and in contributing their perspective to the development of a therapeutic model of care.

SUBMITTER: MacLellan J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4627791 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Peer Support Workers in Health: A Qualitative Metasynthesis of Their Experiences.

MacLellan Jennifer J Surey Julian J Abubakar Ibrahim I Stagg Helen R HR

PloS one 20151030 10

<h4>Objective</h4>Peer support models, where an individual has a specific illness or lifestyle experience and supports others experiencing similar challenges, have frequently been used in different fields of healthcare to successfully engage hard-to-reach groups. Despite recognition of their value, the impact of these roles on the peer has not been systematically assessed. By synthesising the qualitative literature we sought to review such an impact, providing a foundation for designing future c ...[more]

PMID: 26516780

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Project description:BackgroundThe global issue of low breastfeeding rates has been widely reported. Quantitative studies have shown the positive effects of peer support on breastfeeding. However, the experiences of mothers who receive breastfeeding peer support have been found to vary. To date, no systematic qualitative summary has been conducted to document the impact of peer support, nor to provide advice for its implementation from the perspective of breastfeeding mothers. This review aims to systematically synthesize qualitative findings on mothers' experiences of breastfeeding peer support to provide evidence for optimizing peer support services and ultimately enhancing their role in promoting breastfeeding.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Ovid, Web of Science, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Datebase, VIP Database and Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) were searched from the inception of each database until January 2023, to collect qualitative studies and mixed methods studies that included qualitative findings on mothers' experiences with breastfeeding peer support. The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-QARI) was used to extract data and evaluate the quality of the included articles. The meta-integration method was used to explain and integrate the research findings. The review process was carried out by two authors independently, and the disagreements were resolved through consensus.ResultsA total of 15 articles were included in the study, consisting of 13 qualitative studies and 2 mixed methods studies. The analysis identified four integrated themes: (1) obtaining psycho-emotional support; (2) acquiring knowledge and skills; (3) expectations for breastfeeding peer support; and (4) feeding perceptions and behavior change. It should be noted that the articles reviewed are in English and mostly originate from developed countries or regions. Therefore, the generalizability of the integrated findings to underdeveloped regions or non-English speaking countries may be limited.ConclusionMothers perceived that peer support had a positive impact on breastfeeding. To improve the effectiveness of peer support in promoting breastfeeding, it is important to consider the individual needs of each mother. It is recommended that peer support services should be standardized in the future, including the accreditation, training, supervision, and management of peer supporters.

Project description:Background:Peer support for people with long-term mental health problems is central to recovery-oriented approaches in mental health care. Peer support has traditionally been conducted offline in face-to-face groups, while online groups on the Internet have increased rapidly. Offline and online peer support groups are shown to have differing strengths and weaknesses. However, little is known about how combining the two formats might be experienced by service users, which this paper aims to illuminate. Methods:In this exploratory and descriptive study, a recovery-oriented Internet-based portal called ReConnect was used by service users in two mental health communities in Norway for 6-12 months. The portal included an online peer support group which also facilitated participation in local offline peer support groups. Both group formats were moderated by an employed service user consultant. Qualitative data about service users' experiences were collected through focus groups and individual interviews and inductively analyzed thematically. Results:A total of 14 female service users 22-67 years of age with various diagnoses participated in three focus groups and 10 individual interviews. Two main themes were identified: (1) balancing anonymity and openness, and (2) enabling connectedness. These themes are further illustrated with the subthemes: (i) dilemmas of anonymity and confidentiality, (ii) towards self-disclosure and openness, (iii) new friendships, and (iv) networks in the local community. Three of the subthemes mainly describe benefits, while challenges were more implicit and cut across the subthemes. Identified challenges were related to transitions from anonymity online to revealing one's identity offline, confidentiality, and barriers related to participation in offline peer support groups. Conclusions:This study suggests that online and offline peer support groups complement each other, and that combining them is mainly described as beneficial by service users. Identified benefits appeared to arise from service users' options of one format or the other, or that they could combine formats in ways that suited their individual values and comfort zones. Moderation by a trained service user consultant appeared essential for both formats and can be used systematically to address identified challenges. Combining online and offline peer support groups is a promising concept for facilitating recovery-oriented care and warrants continued research.

Project description:BACKGROUND: Improved prevention and management of vascular disease is a global priority. Non-health care professionals (such as, 'lay health workers' and 'peer support workers') are increasingly being used to offer telephone support alongside that offered by conventional services, to reach disadvantaged populations and to provide more efficient delivery of care. However, questions remain over the impact of such interventions, particularly on a wider range of vascular related conditions (such as, chronic kidney disease), and it is unclear how different types of telephone support impact on outcome. This study assessed the evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of telephone self-management interventions led by 'lay health workers' and 'peer support workers' for patients with vascular disease and long-term conditions associated with vascular disease. METHODS: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Three electronic databases were searched. Two authors independently extracted data according to the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Random effects meta-analysis was used to pool outcome measures. RESULTS: Ten studies were included, primarily based in community settings in the United States; with participants who had diabetes; and used 'peer support workers' that shared characteristics with patients. The included studies were generally rated at risk of bias, as many methodological criteria were rated as 'unclear' because of a lack of information.Overall, peer telephone support was associated with small but significant improvements in self-management behaviour (SMD = 0.19, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.33, I2 = 20.4%) and significant reductions in HbA1c level (SMD = -0.26, 95% CI -0.41 to -0.11, I2 = 47.6%). There was no significant effect on mental health quality of life (SMD = 0.03, 95% CI -0.12 to 0.18, I2 = 0%). Data on health care utilisation were very limited and no studies reported cost effectiveness analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Positive effects were found for telephone self-management interventions via 'lay workers' and 'peer support workers' for patients on diabetes control and self-management outcomes, but the overall evidence base was limited in scope and quality. Well designed trials assessing non-healthcare professional delivered telephone support for the prevention and management of vascular disease are needed to identify the content of effective components on health outcomes, and to assess cost effectiveness, to determine if such interventions are potentially useful alternatives to professionally delivered care.

Dataset Information

Peer Support Workers in Health: A Qualitative Metasynthesis of Their Experiences.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Peer Support Workers in Health: A Qualitative Metasynthesis of Their Experiences.

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