1
|
Mikolajczak-Degrauwe K, Slimmen SR, Gillissen D, de Bil P, Bosmans V, Keemink C, Meyvis I, Kuipers YJ. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of peer support among disadvantaged groups: A rapid scoping review. Int J Nurs Sci 2023; 10:587-601. [PMID: 38020843 PMCID: PMC10667317 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To explore the current state of knowledge and evidence about peer support for various disadvantaged groups; to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of peer support to critically reflect on peer support within health and social services. Methods A rapid scoping review was conducted according to Arksey and O'Malley's framework, aiming to identify eligible studies in PubMed, APA PsychInfo, Education Resources Information Center, Cochrane Library, Academic Search Premier, ScienceDirect, Directory of Open Access Journals, ResearchGate, WorldCat, and Google Scholar. According to Rodgers' concept analysis steps and the SWOT model, data was reported using thematic synthesis. Results Forty-five studies were included, describing a variety of peer support initiatives among groups of young migrants and unsupervised minors, young adults with autism, people with (mental) health problems, foster/shelter families, vulnerable pregnant women, people outside the labour force, older adults, and homeless people. The strength of peer support is its positive effect on the quality of life among vulnerable people. The weakness is represented by peers both being too involved and focused on personal interest or by peers lacking expertise and knowledge. Opportunities for peer support are mutual learning, the anticipated long-term effects, and the potential to facilitate social inclusion. Culture, language barriers, drop-out rates, securing sustainability, and peers' lack of time and commitment are regarded as threats to peer support. Conclusion Although peer support offers good outcomes for various groups of vulnerable people, the weaknesses and threats need to be considered to provide and proliferate peer support.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sybren R. Slimmen
- Research Group Healthy Region, HZ University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen, Netherlands
| | - Dylan Gillissen
- Research Group Healthy Region, HZ University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen, Netherlands
| | - Petra de Bil
- Research Group Healthy Region, HZ University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen, Netherlands
| | - Valerie Bosmans
- Department of Health and Social Studies, School of Midwifery, Artesis Plantijn University of Applied Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Corrine Keemink
- Department of Health and Social Studies, School of Midwifery, Artesis Plantijn University of Applied Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Inge Meyvis
- Department of Health and Social Studies, School of Midwifery, Artesis Plantijn University of Applied Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yvonne J. Kuipers
- Department of Health and Social Studies, School of Midwifery, Artesis Plantijn University of Applied Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
- School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Green MM, Lowthian JA, Allgood H, Ogrin R. Volunteer peer support frameworks supporting older women living alone. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:e4252-e4263. [PMID: 35514274 PMCID: PMC10084035 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Volunteer peer support is an approach that enables a supportive connection between volunteers and a sub-set of community members with shared experiences or interests. To implement co-designed strategies to support older women to maintain independence and optimise wellbeing in Australia, a volunteer peer support approach was proposed. There was limited literature describing volunteer peer support frameworks to underpin interventions of this kind; and given the increasing desire for engagement of individuals and communities, articulation of the key components of such a framework is warranted. In this paper, we define volunteers and peer support, and outline existing frameworks for volunteering and peer support. We then describe the volunteer peer support framework developed for this intervention, outlining the key requirements. This information will enable others to develop an effective and sustainable structure for peer support volunteer services.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maja M. Green
- Bolton Clarke Research InstituteForest HillVictoriaAustralia
| | - Judy A. Lowthian
- Bolton Clarke Research InstituteForest HillVictoriaAustralia
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Faculty of Health and Behavioural SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | | | - Rajna Ogrin
- Bolton Clarke Research InstituteForest HillVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Business Strategy and InnovationGriffith UniversityGold CoastAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lotfalinezhad E, Nadrian H, Kousha A, Andersen-Ranberg K, Asghari Jafarabadi M, Sohrabi A, Hashemiparast M, Honarvar MR, Freeman S. Design, implementation and evaluation of informal home care support intervention program for lonely older adults in the community: Protocol for a feasibility study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273924. [PMID: 36044533 PMCID: PMC9432751 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Providing lonely older adults with informal home care services is important to improving their health and quality of life. The study aims to evaluate the feasibility of design, implementation and evaluation of an informal home care support intervention program (HoSIP) for community-dwelling lonely older adults in Gorgan, Iran. METHOD/DESIGN This feasibility study is a mixed-method with a concurrent nested design. Lonely older adults will be enrolled as the HoSIP intervention group and will receive 12-weeks of informal home care service by peer supporters. The purpose of this feasibility study is to determine the recruitment capability and resulting sample characteristics, data collection procedure and outcome measures, the acceptability and suitability of the intervention and study procedures, the resource and ability to manage the study and intervention, and preliminary evaluation of participant response to intervention. Primary outcomes including participant feelings of loneliness, quality of life, general health, social network, social support, and self-care ability, will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention for the intervention and control groups. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted immediately after the intervention using content qualitative approach to describe participants' experiences with HoSIP. DISCUSSION Through this study we will examine the feasibility of delivering informal home care services to community-dwelling lonely older adults in a developing country through employing a concurrent nested mixed-method design. TRIAL REGISTRATION IRCT20190503043455N.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elham Lotfalinezhad
- Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Haidar Nadrian
- Medical Education Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Kousha
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Karen Andersen-Ranberg
- Department of Clinical Research, Consultant Physician, Dept. of Geriatrics, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mohamed Asghari Jafarabadi
- Cabrini Research, Cabrini Health, Malvern, Victoria, Australia
- School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Road Traffic Injury Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Sohrabi
- Cancer Control Research Center, Cancer Control Foundation, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Hashemiparast
- Department of Health Education & Promotion, School of Public Health, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Honarvar
- Health Management and Social Development Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Shannon Freeman
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Schwei RJ, Hetzel S, Kim K, Mahoney J, DeYoung K, Frumer J, Lanzafame RP, Madlof J, Simpson A, Zambrano-Morales E, Jacobs EA. Peer-to-Peer Support and Changes in Health and Well-being in Older Adults Over Time. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2112441. [PMID: 34129024 PMCID: PMC8207241 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.12441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Literature on peer-to-peer (P2P) programs suggests they improve health and well-being of older adults. Analysis from a previous study showed P2P to be associated with higher rates of hospitalization and no significant differences in rates of emergency department or urgent care visits; however, it is not known whether measures of health and well-being varied by group over time. OBJECTIVE To compare the association between receiving P2P support and secondary outcomes (ie, health status, quality of life, and depressive and anxiety symptoms) with receiving standard community services (SCS) over time. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study was conducted among a volunteer sample of older adults (≥65 years) who were new to P2P or were already receiving P2P and a corresponding control group. Participants were matched between groups on age, sex, and race/ethnicity. The study was conducted from March 2015 to December 2017 at 3 community-based organizations that delivered P2P in California, Florida, and New York. Data analysis was performed from October 2018 through May 2020. EXPOSURES P2P support, provided by trained older adult volunteers. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Mental and physical components of the health status and quality of life measure and depressive and anxiety symptoms were collected over 12 months. The hypothesis was that older adults receiving P2P support would maintain higher health status and quality of life than the SCS group. RESULTS A total of 503 participants were screened, 456 participants were enrolled and had baseline data, and 8 participants only had baseline information with no follow-up data, leaving 448 participants (231 [52%] in the SCS group; 217 [48%] in the P2P group; 363 [81%] women; mean [SD] age, 80 [9] years). The P2P group had improvements in mental health (change at 12 months, 1.1 points; 95% CI, -0.8 to 3.0 points) and physical health (change at 12 months, 1.0 points; 95% CI, -0.7 to 2.8 points). However, the difference of differences between the 2 groups did not differ significantly from baseline to 12 months (mental health: 0.2 points; 95% CI -2.3 to 2.7 points; physical health: 1.7 points; 95% CI, -0.6 to 3.9 points). The P2P and SCS groups had a statistically significant difference of differences in anxiety symptoms of 0.36 points (95% CI, 0.04 to 0.61 points). There were no significant differences in depressive symptoms or mental and physical components of the health status and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings suggest that receiving P2P support did not slow the decline of health and well-being in older adults compared with those who received SCS. Baseline imbalance in key characteristics, even after adjusting for the imbalance using the propensity score method, may explain the results. Randomized trials are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. Schwei
- BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
| | - Scott Hetzel
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
| | - KyungMann Kim
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
| | - Jane Mahoney
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
| | | | - Jenni Frumer
- Next Generation of Holocaust Survivors Inc, Boynton Beach, Florida
| | | | - Jenny Madlof
- Alpert Jewish Family Service of West Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Florida
| | - Alis Simpson
- Brockport Research Institute, Brockport, New York
| | | | - Elizabeth A. Jacobs
- Department of Medicine and Population Health, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin
- now with Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jacobs EA, Schwei R, Hetzel S, Mahoney J, Sebastian K, DeYoung K, Frumer J, Madlof J, Simpson A, Zambrano-Morales E, Kim K. Evaluation of Peer-to-Peer Support and Health Care Utilization Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e2030090. [PMID: 33320267 PMCID: PMC7739125 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.30090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The vast majority of older adults desire to age in their communities, and it is not clear what helps them be successful at aging in place. OBJECTIVE To investigate the comparative effectiveness of community-designed and community-implemented peer-to-peer (P2P) support programs vs standard community services (SCS) to promote health and wellness in at-risk older adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This comparative effectiveness study involved a longitudinal cohort of adults aged 65 years and older conducted between 2015 and 2017. The setting was 3 communities in which community-based organizations delivered P2P services to older adults in California, Florida, and New York. Participants in the P2P group and in the SCS group were matched at enrollment into the study according to age, sex, and race/ethnicity at each site. Data analysis was performed from October 2018 to May 2020. EXPOSURES P2P support was provided by trained older adult volunteers in the same community. They provided support targeted at the needs of the older adult they served, including transportation assistance, check-in calls, social activities, help with shopping, and trips to medical appointments. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Rates of hospitalization, urgent care (UC) and emergency department (ED) use, and a composite measure of health care utilization were collected over 12 months of follow-up. RESULTS A total of 503 participants were screened, 456 participants were enrolled and had baseline data (234 in the SCS group and 222 in the P2P group), and 8 participants had no follow-up data, leaving 448 participants for the main analysis (231 in the SCS group and 217 in the P2P group; 363 women [81%]; mean [SD] age, 80 [9] years). Participants in the P2P group more often lived alone, had lower incomes, and were more physically and mentally frail at baseline compared with the SCS group. After adjusting for propensity scores to account for baseline differences between the 2 groups, there was a statistically significant higher rate of hospitalization in the P2P group than in the SCS group (0.68 hospitalization per year vs 0.44 hospitalization per year; risk ratio, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.14-2.07; P = .005) during the 12 months of observation. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the rates of ED or UC visits or composite health care utilization over the 12 months of the study. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE P2P support was associated with higher rates of hospitalization but was not associated with other measures of health care utilization. Given that this is not a randomized clinical trial, it is not clear from these findings whether peer support will help older adults age in place, and the topic deserves further study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Jacobs
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin
- Department of Population Health, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin
- Now with Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough
| | - Rebecca Schwei
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
| | - Scott Hetzel
- Department of Biostatistics and Biomedical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
| | - Jane Mahoney
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
| | - Katherine Sebastian
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin
- Department of Population Health, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin
| | | | - Jenni Frumer
- Jenni Frumer & Associates, LLC, West Palm Beach, Florida
| | - Jenny Madlof
- Alpert Jewish Family Service of West Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Florida
| | - Alis Simpson
- Department of Higher Education and Human Development, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | | | - KyungMann Kim
- Department of Biostatistics and Biomedical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
| |
Collapse
|