Early stages of development of a peer specialist fidelity measure

Measuring fidelity to manualised peer support for people with severe mental health conditions: development and psychometric evaluation of the UPSIDES fidelity scale

BACKGROUND

Peer support workers provide support for people experiencing mental health conditions based on their own lived experience of mental health problems. Assessing fidelity to core ingredients of peer support is vital for successful implementation and intervention delivery. Modifications to its implementation are needed when scaling up to different socio-economic settings, raising further uncertainty about fidelity. As part of a large multi-centre study on peer support called Using Peer Support In Developing Empowering Mental Health Services (UPSIDES), we developed and evaluated the psychometric properties of the UPSIDES Fidelity Scale.

METHODS

We constructed the fidelity scale based on an initial item pool developed through international expert consultation and iterative feedback. Scale refinement involved site-level expert consultation and translation, resulting in a service user-rated 28-item version and a peer support worker-rated 21-item version assessing receipt, engagement, enactment, competence, communication and peer support-specific components. Both versions are available in six languages: English, German, Luganda, Kiswahili, Hebrew and Gujarati. The scale was then evaluated at six study sites across five countries, with peer support workers and their clients completing their respective ratings four and eight months after initial peer support worker contact. Psychometric evaluation included analysis of internal consistency, construct validity and criterion validity.

RESULTS

For the 315 participants, item statistics showed a skewed distribution of fidelity values but no restriction of range. Internal consistency was adequate (range α = 0.675 to 0.969) for total scores and all subscales in both versions. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable fit of the proposed factor structure for the service user version (χ2/df = 2.746; RMSEA = 0.084) and moderate fit for the peer support worker version (χ2/df = 3.087; RMSEA = 0.093). Both versions showed significant correlations with external criteria: number of peer support sessions; perceived recovery orientation of the intervention; and severity of illness.

CONCLUSIONS

The scale demonstrates good reliability, construct and criterion validity, making it a pragmatic and psychometrically acceptable measure for assessing fidelity to a manualised peer support worker intervention. Recommendations for use, along with research and practical implications, are addressed. As validated, multi-lingual tool that adapts to diverse settings this scale is uniquely positioned for global application.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN, ISRCTN26008944. Registered on 30 October 2019.

Certified Peer Support in the Field of Homelessness: Stories Behind the Work

Certified peer support specialists (CPSS) are used as a paraprofessional workforce to engage hard-to-reach populations, including people experiencing homelessness. Thematic analysis was used to explore with CPSS (N = 7) what contributed to their effectiveness when working with this population. Participants were recruited at a HUD lead organization in the southeastern United States. Open-ended semi-structured questions were used in online, synchronous interviews. Themes related to three areas, experience, competence, and the organization, contributed to participants being effective. Specifically, interviewees observed that their lived experiences and abilities to speak a common language with clients contributed to their effectiveness. They identified how personal qualities and unique skillsets suited them for the work. Participants also valued the training they received; certification helped them to develop competencies and to balance vulnerability, empathy, and connection. Finally, participants attributed their effectiveness to clarity about their roles within the organization, supervision, attention to self-care, and co-worker support. Findings from this study may have implications for the value of lived and learned knowledge coexisting in organizations serving those who experience homelessness.

The effectiveness of peer support for individuals with mental illness: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The benefits of peer support interventions (PSIs) for individuals with mental illness are not well known. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of PSIs for individuals with mental illness for clinical, personal, and functional recovery outcomes.

METHODS

Searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO (December 18, 2020). Included were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing peer-delivered PSIs to control conditions. The quality of records was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool. Data were pooled for each outcome, using random-effects models.

RESULTS

After screening 3455 records, 30 RCTs were included in the systematic review and 28 were meta-analyzed (4152 individuals). Compared to control conditions, peer support was associated with small but significant post-test effect sizes for clinical recovery, g = 0.19, 95% CI (0.11-0.27), I2 = 10%, 95% CI (0-44), and personal recovery, g = 0.15, 95% CI (0.04-0.27), I2 = 43%, 95% CI (1-67), but not for functional recovery, g = 0.08, 95% CI (-0.02 to 0.18), I2 = 36%, 95% CI (0-61). Our findings should be considered with caution due to the modest quality of the included studies.

CONCLUSIONS

PSIs may be effective for the clinical and personal recovery of mental illness. Effects are modest, though consistent, suggesting potential efficacy for PSI across a wide range of mental disorders and intervention types.

The effectiveness of peer support from a person with lived experience of mental health challenges for young people with anxiety and depression: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Peer workers support individuals experiencing mental health challenges by drawing on their shared lived experience. Peer support has become increasingly popular for young people with anxiety and depression, but the evidence base is unclear. This systematic review aimed to understand the effectiveness of peer support for youth depression and anxiety (either primary or comorbid), and to understand in which contexts, for whom, and why peer support works.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted with the Orygen Evidence Finder, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycInfo from January 1980 to July 2022. Controlled trials of interventions to improve mental health in young people (mean age 14-24), delivered by a peer worker with lived experienced of mental health challenges were included. Outcomes related to depression or anxiety were extracted and descriptive synthesis was undertaken due to the heterogeneity of studies. Study quality was rated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme; reporting adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement.

RESULTS

Nine randomised controlled trials with 2,003 participants were included, with seven undertaken in high income countries. One targeted depression and anxiety, two stigma-distress (any mental disorder), one first episode psychosis, four studies preventing eating disorders and one drug misuse. One study successfully reduced anxiety and depression, another reduced depression only, four reported reductions in negative affect, with the final three measuring, but not having a significant impact on depression. Study quality was rated as 'good' overall.

DISCUSSION

Despite the uptake of youth peer support globally, there is limited evidence from controlled trials of the effect of peer support-related interventions on anxiety and depression. There is some effect on negative affect, especially for university students. Further rigorously designed trials of peer delivered interventions for young people need to be conducted with a focus on understanding the mechanisms of action underpinning peer support.

Peer Workers in Co-production and Co-creation in Mental Health and Substance Use Services: A Scoping Review

People with lived experience of mental health challenges are extensively employed as peer workers within mental health and substance use services worldwide. Research shows that peer workers benefit individuals using such services and can have essential roles in developing recovery-oriented services. However, understanding how peer workers' contributions, by their role, functions, and input can be better used remains a critical challenge. Research on public sector innovation has focused on relevant actors collaborating to tackle complex demands. Co-production and co-creation are concepts used to describe this collaboration. Co-production refers to the collaboration between providers and users at the point of service delivery, whereas co-creation refers to collaboration starting in the early service cycle phases (e.g., in commissioning or design), including solution implementation. We overviewed research literature describing peer workers' involvement in mental health and substance use services. The research question is as follows: How are peer workers involved in co-production and co-creation in mental health and substance use services, and what are the described outcomes? A literature search was performed in 10 different databases, and 13,178 articles were screened, of which 172 research articles describing peer workers' roles or activities were included. The findings show that peer workers are involved in co-production and function as providers of pre-determined services or, most often, as providers of peer support. However, they are rarely engaged as partners in co-creation. We conclude that the identified peer worker roles have different potential to generate input and affect service delivery and development.

Peer Intervention following Suicide-Related Emergency Department Presentation: Evaluation of the PAUSE Pilot Program

The risk for future suicidal behaviours is elevated following suicide attempts, particularly for those with complex needs or those who are disconnected from healthcare systems. The PAUSE program was designed to address this gap using peer workers to provide continuity and coordination of care following suicide-related emergency presentations. This study aimed to evaluate the pilot program's effect on suicidal ideation and hope, and to explore the acceptability and participants' experiences. A mixed-methods design was employed with pre- and post-evaluation questionnaires, including the GHQ-28-SS (general health questionnaire suicide scale), AHS (adult hope scale), and K10 (Kessler psychological distress scale). Participant engagement rates and semi-structured interviews were used to explore program acceptability. In total, 142 people were engaged with the PAUSE pilot between 24 August 2017 and 11 January 2020. There were no significant gender differences in engagement. The suicidal ideation scores decreased, and the hope scores increased after participation in PAUSE. A thematic analysis revealed that participants identified that the key program mechanisms were holistic and responsive support, ongoing social connectedness, and having peer workers who understood their experiences and treated them like people rather than clients. The small number of participants and lack of a control group limited the result generalizability. The findings suggest that PAUSE was an effective and acceptable model for supporting people following suicide-related hospitalisations in this pilot sample.

Preventing, reducing, and attenuating restraint: A prospective controlled trial of the implementation of peer support in acute psychiatry

Introduction

The use of restraint as a means of managing patients is considered a critical factor that interferes with recovery. Strategies to create a less restrictive environment within psychiatric facilities are therefore eagerly sought. Peer support workers (PSWs) are increasingly employed in mental health settings. The prevailing theory is that PSWs have the potential to contribute to conflict and restraint prevention efforts in acute psychiatric wards. However, to date, research in support of this claim remains limited.

Objective

The present study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of employing peer support workers with regard to reducing the use of restraint.

Methods

This prospective controlled pre-post study sought to evaluate the implementation of peer support in one locked ward compared to treatment as usual (TAU) with no implementation of peer support in a second locked ward of a psychiatry department in Berlin, Germany. The pre-post comparison was planned to consist of two assessment periods of 3 months each, taking place directly before and after peer support implementation or TAU. Both assessments were extended to a period of 6 months, before and after the initially planned 12-month implementation process, in order to balance the effects of disruptions and of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using routine data, the proportion, frequency, and duration of mechanical restraint, forced medication as well as mechanical restraint in combination with forced medication, were evaluated.

Results

In the control group, an increase in the proportion of patients subjected to measures of restraint was found between pre- and post-assessment, which was accompanied by a further increase in the mean number of events of restraint per patient within this group. In the intervention group, no significant change in the application of restraint was observed during the study period.

Discussion

There is some indication that peer support may be protective with regard to restraint in acute wards. However, our study faced major challenges during the implementation process and the post-assessment period, such as COVID-19 and staff reorganization. This may have led to peer support not reaching its full potential. The relationship between the implementation of peer support and the use of restraint therefore merits further investigation.

Investigating the Fidelity of Digital Peer Support: A Preliminary Approach using Natural Language Processing to Scale High-Fidelity Digital Peer Support

Adults with serious mental illnesses are disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions that are linked to inadequately managed medical and psychiatric illnesses and are associated with poor lifestyle behaviors. Emerging intervention models emphasize the value of peer specialists (certified individuals who offer emotional, social, and practical assistance to those with similar lived experiences) in promoting better illness management and meaningful community rehabilitation. Over the last few years, there has been an increasing uptake in the use of digital services and online platforms for the dissemination of various peer services. However, current literature cannot scale current service delivery approaches through audio recording of all interactions to monitor and ensure fidelity at scale. This research aims to understand the individual components of digital peer support to develop a corpus and use natural language processing to classify high-fidelity evidence-based techniques used by peer support specialists in novel datasets. The research hypothesizes that a binary classifier can be developed with an accuracy of 70% through the analysis of digital peer support data.

The impact of peer support work on the mental health of peer support specialists

Background

Peers support specialists have positive impacts on the mental health of their service users. However, less is known about how their mental health changes as a result of their activities.

Methods

We followed 10 peer support specialists over their first year of employment and interviewed them thrice. We used grounded theory to analyse the way in which the health of participants changed.

Results

Self-reported mental health of our participants did not change over the course of the study. However, the role did help participants grow and learn about their condition and their strengths. While sharing their past experiences could be taxing, they learned how to harness their recovery journey without risking relapse.

Conclusion

Entering the role of a peer support specialist does not appear to negatively impact mental health, but might enhance insight and resilience. However, this appears to occur in individuals who already possess an inclination toward introspection.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13033-022-00561-8.

Peer Support at the Intersection of Disability and Opioid (Mis)Use: Key Stakeholders Provide Essential Considerations

Individuals with disabilities may experience higher rates of opioid/substance use disorders (OUD/SUD) than other individuals and are likely vulnerable to unmet treatment needs. Peer support may be beneficial to these individuals, given the evidence of benefits in target populations with similar needs and the potential for overcoming barriers to treatment suggested in the available literature. The objective of this exploratory study was to specify essential considerations in adapting peer support for this population. Diverse key stakeholders (n = 16) were interviewed to explore the experiences, needs, and available supports for individuals with disabilities and OUD/SUD. A Peer Support Work Group including members with lived experience advised each component of the study. Semi-structured interview data were content analyzed and memos generated to summarize themes related to the research question. Participants reported extensive professional and personal experience in human services, disability, and recovery. Emergent themes included the importance of accessibility and model fit, the notion of "peerness" and peer match, and essential aspects of peer recruitment, training, and support. An accessible, acceptable, effective model of peer support requires particular attention to the needs of this diverse and varied population, and the contexts in which they are identified, referred, and engaged in services.

Dementia Neuropsychiatric Symptom Frequency, Severity, and Correlates in Community-Dwelling Thai Older Adults

BACKGROUND

Thailand is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of older people with dementia (PWD). We examined the frequency, severity, and correlates of dementia neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) among community-dwelling Thai older adults.

METHODS

This study was based on analysis of baseline data from a larger clinical trial comparing two different implementation approaches of an evidence-based exercise intervention for people with dementia. To be eligible, participants needed to be age 60 and above, have probable dementia, have one or more NPS, be ambulatory, and have an adult (age 18+) family caregiver. In the 353 eligible participants, we examined the correlation between NPS severity and caregiver distress (assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire or NPI-Q) and used ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to examine associations between PWD and caregiver characteristics and NPS severity.

RESULTS

NPS frequency varied from 18% for appetite and/or eating changes to 42% for delusions. NPS severity was significantly (p <0.05) associated with caregiver stress for all individual NPS. Among PWD characteristics, higher ADL score (less functional impairment) was inversely associated with NPS total severity (b = -0.16, p <0.05). More physical role limitation was significantly associated with higher NPS total severity (b = 0.77, p <0.001). Among caregivers' characteristics, higher burden was significantly associated with higher NPS total severity (b = 0.19, p <0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study found NPS to be common among community-dwelling PWD in Thailand and have adverse impacts on both PWD and family caregivers. These findings highlight the clinical importance of NPS symptoms among Thai older adults.

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.

An Update of Peer Support/Peer Provided Services Underlying Processes, Benefits, and Critical Ingredients

The purpose of this article is to delineate the current state-of-the-knowledge of peer support following the framework employed in the 2004 article (Solomon, Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2004;27(4):392-401 1). A scoping literature was conducted and included articles from 1980 to present. Since 2004, major growth and advancements in peer support have occurred from the development of new specializations to training, certification, reimbursement mechanisms, competency standards and fidelity assessment. Peer support is now a service offered across the world and considered an indispensable mental health service. As the field continues to evolve and develop, peer support is emerging as a standard of practice throughout various, diverse settings and shows potential to impact clinical outcomes for service users throughout the globe. While these efforts have enhanced the professionalism of the peer workforce, hopefully this has enhanced the positive elements of these services and not diluted them.

Implementation Science in Thailand: Design and Methods of a Geriatric Mental Health Cluster-Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

Thailand has a rapidly aging population yet lacks evidence for effective and scalable evidence-based psychosocial interventions to support persons living with dementia and their family caregivers. In this study of a culturally adapted and evidence-based clinical program (Reducing Disabilities in Alzheimer's Disease [RDAD]), designed to reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in older adults, the authors test the hypothesis that an implementation support strategy, Getting To Outcomes (GTO), would produce better implementation and clinical outcomes compared with usual implementation of RDAD in Thailand.

METHODS

The study uses a hybrid type III cluster-randomized design to compare eight geographical districts that receive training on both implementing the RDAD clinical intervention and on GTO implementation support strategies (intervention arm) with eight other districts that receive the same RDAD training but without training in GTO implementation support strategies (control arm). GTO is an evidence-based intervention designed to support implementers to better plan, implement, and evaluate innovative intervention programs in a novel setting. Primary outcomes, including implementation and clinical outcomes, will be assessed at baseline, month 3 (posttreatment), and month 6 (3-month follow-up).

RESULTS

The research team anticipates that there will be significantly more improvements in the delivery of the RDAD intervention program in the experimental group than in the control group.

NEXT STEPS

If clinical trial findings are positive, the authors plan to replicate and scale up the proposed implementation science approach across Thailand to enhance and expand mental health services for older adults with dementia.

A Longitudinal Qualitative Analysis of the Way Peer Support Specialist Roles Change Over Time in a Psychiatric Hospital Setting in Asia

The current study seeks to determine how peer support roles change as peer support specialists’ positions within organizations and departments mature. We followed ten peer support specialists over the course of a year, interviewing them at three points, starting approximately three months after they began working as peer support specialists. We used an inductive process to analyze our data and followed guidelines on the structuring of longitudinal qualitative trajectories to divide the data into watershed moments. Our participants worked in a variety of departments in the hospital, and their service use experiences generally echo those of their service users. Participants appear to pass through four phases over the course of their employment as peers: early beginnings, establishing the role, role narrowing, and role sustainability. Services wishing to integrate new peers must be aware of the time required for integration. Having general job descriptions limited to specifying that peers are expected to use their lived experience to support current service users may lead to uncertainty amongst new and existing staff. Without role clarity, peers may struggle to find their place. Pairing new staff with mentors may limit this burden. As roles consolidate, boundaries may emerge. If these boundaries narrow the role of the PSS, they may no longer find the role appealing. They may then choose other caregiver roles with wider or different spheres of influence. Organizations may benefit by clearly indicating if they expect peer support positions to be static or transitionary.

Roles of peer specialists and use of mental health services among youth with serious mental illness

AIM

To examine whether roles of peer specialists affect service use among Black, Latinx and White youth ages 16-24 with serious mental illness (SMI) in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties.

METHODS

Administrative data from 2015 to 2018 was used to summarize service use among 6329 transition age youth age 16-24 with SMI who received services from 76 outpatient public mental health programs with peer specialists on staff. Roles of peer specialists were assessed via a program survey. Generalized linear models were used to assess the relationship between peer specialist characteristics and service use outcomes (ie, outpatient and inpatient).

RESULTS

Having a transition age youth peer specialist on staff (vs older peer specialists) and having peer specialists that provide four or more services (vs fewer services) was associated with an increase in annual outpatient visits in both counties (P = <.001 each). In Los Angeles County, having three or more peer specialist trainings (vs fewer trainings) was associated with lower use of inpatient services (P < .001). In San Diego County, having a transition age youth peer specialist and peer specialists that provide four or more services was associated with lower use of inpatient services (P < .001 each).

CONCLUSIONS

Types of peer support and number of types of peer services were associated with mental health service utilization. Detailed examination of the roles of peer specialists is merited to identify the specific pathways that improve outcomes.

Barriers and facilitators of peer support work in a large psychiatric hospital: a thematic analysis

BACKGROUND

Peer support workers are an important addition to the mental healthcare profession. However, much of the literature and knowledge of the peer support role is derived from western countries. This concept is relatively new in Asian countries.

AIMS

The study sought to improve the understanding of the barriers and facilitators of peer support work in a large psychiatric hospital in Singapore.

METHODS

This study used qualitative data from a larger mixed-methods study. Thematic analysis was conducted based on the five steps recommended by Braun and Clarke (2006): (1) familiarisation of data whereby transcripts were read and reread, (2) generating initial codes, (3) searching for themes by gathering relevant codes, (4) reviewing themes and (5) defining and naming themes.

RESULTS

Four subthemes under the broader notion of facilitators (supportive figures, defined role, opportunities for personal growth and identifying personalised coping strategies) and three subthemes under the concept of barriers (unclear role, hostility from non-peer-support-specialist staff and unsupportive working environments) were identified.

CONCLUSION

Our findings echoed those of previous studies conducted in western countries providing some evidences for the cross-cultural nature of these barriers and facilitators. However, the way their impact can be mitigated or enhanced is likely to be different owing to cultural barriers, such as the general consensus and acceptance of larger personal recovery ideologies. Further research is required in community settings to better understand the boundaries and limitations of our findings. This information will allow us to continue improving peer support worker integration in diverse mental healthcare settings.

Law enforcement worker suicide: an updated national assessment

PURPOSE –

The purpose of this paper is to update the assessment of national data on law enforcement worker suicide based on the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance database (NOMS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH –

Death certificate data for 4,441,814 decedents, age 18-90 who died in one of the 26 reporting states were the source of NOMS data. Utilizing proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs), the ratio of suicides in law enforcement occupations in those who are 18-90 years old with a designated usual occupation was calculated.

FINDINGS –

Findings indicate a significantly higher proportion of deaths from suicide for law enforcement officers (PMR = 154, 95% CI = 147-162), compared to all the US decedents in the study population who were employed during their lifetime. Law enforcement personnel are 54% more likely to die of suicide than all decedents with a usual occupation. PMRs were highest for African-Americans, Hispanic males and for females. PMRs were similar for detectives, corrections officers and all law enforcement jobs, when not stratified by race, ethnicity and sex.

RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS –

Bias may arise because a PMR can be affected by disproportionate increased or decreased mortality from causes of death other than suicide.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS –

A better understanding of the scope of law enforcement suicide can inform policy focused on the planning and initiation of prevention programs.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE –

The use of a national database to study law enforcement worker suicide adds to other information available on law enforcement worker suicide in specific geographic areas. The discussion on prevention in this paper presents ideas for policy.

Developing and testing a principle-based fidelity index for peer support in mental health services

PURPOSE

Evidence suggests that the distinctive relational qualities of peer support-compared to clinical-patient relationships-can be eroded in regulated healthcare environments. Measurement of fidelity in trials of peer support is lacking. This paper reports the development and testing of a fidelity index for one-to-one peer support in mental health services, designed to assess fidelity to principles that characterise the distinctiveness of peer support.

METHODS

A draft index was developed using expert panels of service user researchers and people doing peer support, informed by an evidence-based, peer support principles framework. Two rounds of testing took place in 24 mental health services providing peer support in a range of settings. Fidelity was assessed through interviews with peer workers, their supervisors and people receiving peer support. Responses were tested for spread and internal consistency, independently double rated for inter-rater reliability, with feedback from interviewees and service user researchers used to refine the index.

RESULTS

A fidelity index for one-to-one peer support in mental health services was produced with good psychometric properties. Fidelity is assessed in four principle-based domains; building trusting relationships based on shared lived experience; reciprocity and mutuality; leadership, choice and control; building strengths and making connections to community.

CONCLUSIONS

The index offers potential to improve the evidence base for peer support in mental health services, enabling future trials to assess fidelity of interventions to peer support principles, and service providers a means of ensuring that peer support retains its distinctive qualities as it is introduced into mental health services.

The Validation of a Provider-Reported Fidelity Measure for the Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention in a Community Mental Health Setting

Monitoring treatment fidelity is essential to check if patients receive adequate doses of treatment and to enhance our theoretical understanding of how psychosocial treatments work. Developing valid and efficient measures to assess fidelity is a priority for dissemination and implementation efforts. The present study reports on the psychometric properties of the Provider-Rated TranS-C Checklist-a provider-reported fidelity measure for the Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention (TranS-C). Adults with severe mental illness (SMI; N = 101) seeking treatment in a community mental health setting received eight sessions of TranS-C. Therapists completed the Provider-Rated TranS-C Checklist at the end of each treatment session (N = 808) to indicate which modules they delivered during that session. To assess convergent validity, independent raters scored modules delivered from audio recordings of a subset of sessions (n = 257) for the modules delivered using the Independent-Rater TranS-C Checklist. Using exploratory factor analysis, a unidimensional scale composed of TranS-C's modules was identified. Provider-Rated TranS-C Checklist scores were positively associated with the Independent-Rater TranS-C Checklist scores demonstrating convergent validity. Results indicate that the Provider-Rated TranS-C Checklist yields reliable and valid scores of providers' delivery of TranS-C.

Peer navigation for individuals with serious mental illness leaving jail: a pilot randomized trial study protocol

Background

Serious mental illness (SMI) is a prevalent public health problem affecting 25% of individuals in jail. Re-entry to the community following incarceration is a vulnerable time for justice-involved individuals with SMI. SMI requires prompt and ongoing access to mental health and other healthcare services.

Methods

The study will (1) develop a Mentoring And Peer Support (MAPS) intervention for post-release mental health and other service connection among jailed individuals with SMI and (2) pilot test the MAPS intervention to determine its feasibility and acceptability. The primary outcomes will be to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the proposed recruitment methods and research design, of the intervention training methods, and of delivering the enhanced peer-navigator and control interventions. Study samples include focus groups (n=36), open trial (n=15), and a randomized pilot trial in a sample of 40 individuals with SMI re-entering the community after jail release. Secondary outcomes will include post-release enrollment in mental health, medical care, and substance use services. We will also evaluate reduction in psychiatric symptoms, improvements in functioning, adherence to psychiatric medications, fewer substance using days, fewer hospitalizations and suicide attempts, nights unstably housed, and time until rearrest.

Discussion

This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a peer navigation intervention for individuals with serious mental illness leaving jails. The study will serve as a formative work for a larger randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of peer navigator intervention for (include the primary outcome) in this population.

Digital Peer Support Mental Health Interventions for People With a Lived Experience of a Serious Mental Illness: Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Peer support is recognized globally as an essential recovery service for people with mental health conditions. With the influx of digital mental health services changing the way mental health care is delivered, peer supporters are increasingly using technology to deliver peer support. In light of these technological advances, there is a need to review and synthesize the emergent evidence for peer-supported digital health interventions for adults with mental health conditions.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify and review the evidence of digital peer support interventions for people with a lived experience of a serious mental illness.

METHODS

This systematic review was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) procedures. The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published between 1946 and December 2018 that examined digital peer support interventions for people with a lived experience of a serious mental illness. Additional articles were found by searching the reference lists from the 27 articles that met the inclusion criteria and a Google Scholar search in June 2019. Participants, interventions, comparisons, outcomes, and study design (PICOS) criteria were used to assess study eligibility. Two authors independently screened titles and abstracts, and reviewed all full-text articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Discrepancies were discussed and resolved. All included studies were assessed for methodological quality using the Methodological Quality Rating Scale.

RESULTS

A total of 30 studies (11 randomized controlled trials, 2 quasiexperimental, 15 pre-post designs, and 2 qualitative studies) were included that reported on 24 interventions. Most of the studies demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of peer-to-peer networks, peer-delivered interventions supported with technology, and use of asynchronous and synchronous technologies.

CONCLUSIONS

Digital peer support interventions appear to be feasible and acceptable, with strong potential for clinical effectiveness. However, the field is in the early stages of development and requires well-powered efficacy and clinical effectiveness trials.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42020139037; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID= 139037.

Peer mentorship to reduce suicide attempts among high-risk adults (PREVAIL): Rationale and design of a randomized controlled effectiveness-implementation trial

RATIONALE

Novel approaches to suicide prevention are needed to address increasing rates of suicide deaths. Research suggests that interventions led by certified Peer Specialists may improve suicide protective factors such as hope and connectedness; however, the effectiveness of a Peer Specialist intervention for reducing suicidal thoughts or behaviors has not previously been tested empirically.

DESIGN

We describe the methodology of a randomized controlled hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial of a peer specialist intervention known as PREVAIL (Peers for Valued Living). The primary effectiveness aim is to determine whether the 3-month peer mentorship intervention compared to a minimally enhanced usual care condition reduces suicide attempts and suicidal ideation among adults at high risk for suicide who have been psychiatrically hospitalized. Secondary effectiveness outcomes include medically serious suicide attempts according to chart review and self-reported self-efficacy to avoid suicide. We also describe suicide risk management, supervision, and fidelity monitoring in the context of Peer Specialist providers and our methods for assessing implementation barriers and facilitators.

CONCLUSION

The PREVAIL trial will demonstrate novel methods for incorporating peer providers into a suicide prevention effectiveness trial with high-risk study participants. PREVAIL's hybrid effectiveness-implementation design aims to maximize the likelihood of rapid implementation in the community if shown to be effective.

Assessing the Fidelity of Evidence-Based Practices: History and Current Status of a Standardized Measurement Methodology

Evidence-based practices are effective only when implemented faithfully. This paper explicates the history, standardization, and methods for developing and validating measures of fidelity. We overviewed the past 20 years of developing fidelity measures, summarized standardization of the development procedures, and described needed psychometric assessments. Fidelity assessment has become the sine qua non of implementation, technical assistance, and research on evidence-based practices. Researchers have established standardized procedures for scale development and psychometric testing. Widescale use of fidelity measurement remains challenging. The implementation of evidence-based practice and the development and validation of fidelity measures are interdependent. International improvements of mental health care will require attention to both.

A pilot study comparing peer supported web-based CBT to self-managed web CBT for primary care veterans with PTSD and hazardous alcohol use

OBJECTIVE

Many combat veterans struggle with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and hazardous alcohol use and are hesitant to engage in behavioral health services. Combining peer support with an eHealth intervention may overcome many barriers to care. This pilot study investigated the feasibility of adding peer support to a web-based cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) targeting PTSD symptoms and hazardous drinking, called Thinking Forward.

METHOD

Thirty primary care patients with PTSD and hazardous alcohol use were randomized to receive Thinking Forward with or without peer support. Participants were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 24-week follow-up. Feasibility was analyzed with descriptive statistics. Preliminary outcomes were analyzed with multilevel modeling and effect sizes are presented.

RESULTS

Peer support specialists can be feasibly trained to support the Thinking Forward intervention with good fidelity. Both participants and peers reported good satisfaction with the protocol; although peers discussed a mismatch between the philosophies of peer support and diagnostically focused CBT. All participants experienced significant improvements in PTSD, quality of life, resiliency, and coping from pre- to posttreatment, with no differences between conditions. Pretreatment patient activation predicted outcomes regardless of whether participants received peer support.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Peer support interventions to facilitate eHealth programs should strive to be consistent with the person-centered, recovery orientation of peer support, explicitly focus on patient activation, and consider characteristics of the patients, such as their level of problem recognition and willingness to engage in traditional behavioral health modalities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Peer approaches to self-management (PALS): comparing a peer mentoring approach for disease self-management in African American women with lupus with a social support control: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs and decreased quality of life. African Americans in the USA have three to four times greater prevalence of SLE, risk of developing SLE at an earlier age, and SLE-related disease activity, damage, and mortality compared with Caucasians, with the highest rates experienced by African American women. There is strong evidence that patient-level factors are associated with outcomes, which justifies targeting them with intervention. While evidence-based self-management interventions that incorporate both social support and health education have reduced pain, improved function, and delayed disability among patients with SLE, African Americans and women are still disproportionately impacted by SLE. Peer mentoring interventions are effective in other chronic conditions that disproportionately affect minorities, such as diabetes mellitus, HIV, and kidney disease, but there is currently no empirically tested peer mentoring intervention developed for patients with SLE. Preliminary data from our group suggest that peer mentoring improves self-management, reduces disease activity, and improves health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in African American women with SLE.

METHODS

This study will test an innovative, manualized peer mentorship program designed to provide modeling and reinforcement by peers (mentors) to other African American women with SLE (mentees) to encourage them to engage in activities that promote disease self-management. Through a randomized, "mentored" or "support group" controlled design, we will assess the efficacy and mechanism(s) of this intervention in self-management, disease activity, and HRQOL.

DISCUSSION

This is the first study to test peer mentorship as an alternative strategy to improve outcomes in African American women with SLE. This could result in a model for other programs that aim to improve disease self-management, disease activity, and HRQOL in African American women suffering from chronic illness. The peer mentoring approach is uniquely fitted to African Americans, and this intervention has the potential to lead to health improvements for African American women with SLE that have not been attainable with other interventions. This would significantly reduce disparities and have considerable public health impact.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03734055 . Registered on 27 November 2018.

"What We Have in Common": A Qualitative Analysis of Shared Experience in Peer-Delivered Services

"Shared experience" has been described as a key element of peer-delivered services, but it is not well-understood how it is used in practice, particularly among peer specialists working in more conventional mental health agencies. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with eight peer specialists and two supervisors working in a Peer Wellness Program within a Housing First agency to explore peer specialists' approach to service delivery, with a focus on the role of shared experience. Peer specialists rarely reported explicitly sharing experiences related to mental health with clients, but described how it was nevertheless ever-present through the unique ways it shaped features of their practice (e.g., empathy, patience, consistency, listening, unstructured time, and a client-centered approach). In contrast, explicit discussion of shared experiences related to other life domains, such as culture, physical health, and significant life events, were frequently relied upon to support and build rapport with clients.

Emergency Medicine Research Priorities for Early Intervention for Substance Use Disorders

Introduction

Patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) frequently seek emergency care, and the emergency department (ED) may be their only point of contact with the healthcare system. While the ED visit has been increasingly recognized as providing opportunity for interventions around substance use, many questions remain.

Methods

In December 2016 the Coalition on Psychiatric Emergencies (CPE) convened the first Research Consensus Conference on Acute Mental Illness, which consisted of clinical researchers, clinicians from emergency medicine, emergency psychiatry, emergency psychology, representatives from governmental agencies and patient advocacy groups. Background literature review was conducted prior to the meeting, and questions were iteratively focused, revised, voted on and ranked by perceived importance using nominal group method.

Results

The main goal of the SUD workgroup was to identify research priorities and develop a research agenda to improve the early identification of and management of emergency department (ED) patients with SUDs with the goal of improving outcomes. This article is the product of a breakout session on “Special Populations: Substance Use Disorder.” The workgroup identified with high consensus six research priorities for their importance related to the care of ED patients with SUDs in these overall domains: screening; ED interventions; the role of peer navigators; initiation of SUD management in the ED; specific patient populations that may impact the effectiveness of interventions including sociogenerational and cultural factors; and the management of the acutely intoxicated patient.

Conclusion

Emergency providers are increasingly recognizing the important role of the ED in reducing adverse outcomes associated with untreated SUDs. Additional research is required to close identified knowledge gaps and improve care of ED patients with SUD.

Perceived barriers and facilitators to implementation of peer support in Veterans Health Administration Primary Care-Mental Health Integration settings

Peer support is increasingly recognized as consistent with the goals of integrated primary care and is being implemented in primary care settings as a patient-centered approach that increases patient activation and access to care. Within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), peer support specialists (PSSs) have traditionally worked in specialty mental health settings and only recently started working in Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) settings. Prior research has identified implementation challenges, such as role confusion, when integrating peer support into new settings. In this qualitative descriptive study, we conducted semistructured interviews on perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing peer support in PC-MHI with 25 key stakeholders (7 PSSs, 6 PSS supervisors, 6 PC-MHI providers, and 6 primary care providers). We used conventional content analysis to code responses within four a priori implementation categories: barriers, initial facilitators, long-term facilitators, and leadership support. Perceived barriers included poor program functioning, inadequate administrative support, role confusion, and negative stakeholder attitudes. Key perceived facilitators of initializing and maintaining peer support were similar; administrative support was emphasized followed by program functioning and team cohesion. Stakeholder buy-in and access/visibility were perceived to facilitate initial implementation, whereas evidence of success was believed to facilitate maintenance. Stakeholder buy-in and administrative support were considered key elements of leadership support. Results were consistent with prior research from specialty mental health settings, but identified unique considerations for PC-MHI settings, particularly clarifying the PSS role based on local PC-MHI needs, obtaining buy-in, and facilitating integration of PSSs into the primary care team. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Peer specialists: Exploring the influence of program structure on their emerging role

Although peer specialists play an increasing role in mental health service delivery, little is known about the best program structures for maximizing effective service delivery. This study reports on qualitative data from a larger study on peer specialists working with veterans in a Veterans Affairs homelessness program who were dually diagnosed with substance abuse and mental health concerns. Peer specialists were trained to deliver a recovery support program that is carried out weekly over 9 months and includes 20 structured sessions using a workbook and 20 unstructured, individually planned sessions. A sample of 20 veterans who were in the program were interviewed, along with 8 case managers and 3 peer specialists involved with the program. Interview transcripts were coded for 3 elements of program structure: time, content, and delivery. Results show that the program structure allowed flexibility for individual needs and that the workbook sessions were useful. Veterans ascribed value to the peer specialist delivering the content, compared to working alone on the material. Deliberate use of unstructured time with the peer specialist was seen as reducing isolation, increasing community integration, and encouraging recovery activities. The weekly, dependable nature of the program was seen as highly positive, whereas the 9-month duration was seen as too short. All groups interviewed expressed satisfaction with the program, although the case managers reported some reservations related to supervision and boundaries. Results suggest that, compared to completely structured or unstructured approaches that are common for peer specialist services, a middle level of structure for peer specialist programs could be a useful alternative. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Establishing a Research Agenda for Understanding the Role and Impact of Mental Health Peer Specialists

Mental health peer specialists are individuals with serious mental illnesses who receive training to use their lived experiences to help others with serious mental illnesses in clinical settings. This Open Forum discusses the state of the research for mental health peer specialists and suggests a research agenda to advance the field. Studies have suggested that peer specialists vary widely in their roles, settings, and theoretical orientations. Theories of action have been proposed, but none have been tested. Outcome studies have shown benefits of peer specialists; however, many studies have methodological shortcomings. Qualitative descriptions of peer specialists are plentiful but lack grounding in implementation science frameworks. A research agenda advancing the field could include empirically testing theoretical mechanisms of peer specialists, developing a measure of peer specialist fidelity, conducting more rigorous outcomes studies, involving peer specialists in executing the research, and assessing various factors that influence implementing peer specialist services and testing strategies that could address those factors.

Provision of peer specialist services in VA patient aligned care teams: protocol for testing a cluster randomized implementation trial

Background

Over 1100 Veterans work in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) as peer specialists (PSs). PSs are Veterans with formal training who provide support to other Veterans with similar diagnoses, primarily in mental health settings. A White House Executive Action mandated the pilot reassignment of VHA PSs from mental health to 25 primary care Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) in order to broaden the provision of wellness services that can address many chronic illnesses. An evaluation of this initiative was undertaken to assess the impact of outside assistance on the deployment of PS in PACT, as implementation support is often needed to prevent challenges commonly experienced when first deploying PSs in VHA settings. We present the protocol for this cluster-randomized hybrid type II trial to test the impact of standard implementation (receive minimal assistance) vs. facilitated implementation (receive outside assistance) on the deployment of VHA PSs in PACT.

Methods

A VHA Office of Mental Health Services work group is recruiting 25 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers to reassign a mental health PSs to provide wellness-oriented care in PACT. Sites in three successive cohorts (n = 8, 8, 9) beginning over 6-month blocks will be matched and randomized to either standard or facilitated implementation. In facilitated implementation, an outside expert works with site stakeholders through a site visit, regular calls, and performance data to guide the planning and address challenges. Standard implementation sites will receive a webinar and access the Office of Mental Health Services work group. The two conditions will be compared on PS workload data, fidelity to the PS model of service delivery, team functioning, and Veteran measures of activation, satisfaction, and functioning. Qualitative interviews will collect information on implementation barriers and facilitators.

Discussion

This evaluation will provide critical data to guide administrators and VHA policy makers on future deployment of PSs, as their role has been expanding beyond mental health. In addition, development of novel implementation strategies (facilitation tailored to PSs) and the use of new tools (peer fidelity) can be models for monitoring and supporting deployment of PSs throughout VHA.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02732600 (URL:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02732600)