Empowering Adults With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury to Prevent Secondary Conditions

Partnering with insiders: A review of peer models across community-engaged research, education and social care

“…Overall, the outcomes and benefits in the reviewed articles are aligned with previous literature noting benefits of community engagement in research for peers, their communities and the quality of the research, education or social care (Chang et al, 2013;Domecq et al, 2014;Woodall et al, 2013). As noted in several of the reviewed articles, peers working within peer models can benefit directly from increased knowledge and practice of research skills, enhanced selfesteem, confidence and feelings of empowerment, improvements in knowledge/information about health, chronic disease and wellbeing, leadership opportunities, greater access to resources and increased peer support networks (Allen et al, 2014;Colleran et al, 2012;Downey et al, 2010;Ghahramani, 2015;Houlihan et al, 2016;James, 2007;John et al, 2013;Lazarus et al, 2014;Madrigal et al, 2016;Ramsden, Martin, McMillan, Granger-Brown, & Tole, 2015;Schutt & Rogers, 2009;Woodall et al, 2013). Utilising a peer model also has benefits and advantages for the peer communities including actionable project findings/results applicable to the community, improved health and social services, enhanced understanding of community needs and priorities and increased awareness of important issues at community level, social change and justice (Baynes et al, 2017;Boise et al, 2013;Brown et al, 2011;Calhoun, 2014;Chen et al, 2013;Cortez et al, 2011;Dill, 2015;Downey et al, 2010;Gabriel et al, 2013).…”

SCI peer health coach influence on self-management with peers: a qualitative analysis

“…The MCMC study is described in detail elsewhere. 21,30 This RCT enrolled 42 individuals in the intervention group compared with 42 control individuals who received usual care. Eligibility criteria included: age ⩾ 18 years, chronic traumatic SCI (⩾1 year postinjury), endorsement of an unmet primary prevention or self-management need, and telephone access.…”

“…[18][19][20][21] Peer support has shown promise in encouraging self-management and increasing health information knowledge for adults during the first year post-SCI. 5,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] SCI peer mentors have a lived experience with SCI, including acute hospitalization, rehabilitation and successful community re-integration. 1 They provide understanding and support to help another adjust to living with and managing an SCI.…”

Pilot study of a training program to enhance transformational leadership in Spinal Cord Injury Peer Mentors

“…SCI peer mentorship may be delivered within the contexts of in-patient care, out-patient care, or in the community [4]. People who receive SCI peer mentorship (i.e., mentees) report various physical, social and psychological benefits of the mentorship [4][5][6][7]. Although little is known about how to maximize these benefits, recent research suggests a linkage between SCI peer mentors' displays of transformational leadership (TFL) and positive outcomes in their mentees [8].…”