Testing a peer support intervention for people with type 2 diabetes: a pilot for a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundPeople with Type 2 diabetes face various psycho-social, self-management and clinical care issues and evidence is mixed whether support from others with diabetes, ‘peer support’, can help. We now describe a 2 month pilot study of different peer support interventions.MethodsThe intervention was informed by formative evaluation using semi-structured interviews with health professionals, community support groups and observation of diabetes education and support groups. Invitations to participate were mailed from 4 general practices and included a survey of barriers to care. Participants were randomized by practice to receive individual, group, combined (both individual and group) or no peer support. Evaluation included ethnographic observation, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires at baseline and post-intervention.ResultsOf 1,101 invited, 15% expressed an interest in participating in the pilot. Sufficient numbers volunteered to become peer supporters, although 50% of these (8/16) withdrew. Those in the pilot were similar to other patients, but were less likely to feel they knew enough about diabetes (60.8% vs 44.6% p = 0.035) and less likely to be happy with the diabetes education/care to date (75.4% vs 55.4% p = 0.013). Key issues identified were the need to recruit peer supporters directly rather than through clinicians, to address participant diabetes educational needs early and the potential for group sessions to have lower participation rates than 1:1 sessions.ConclusionsRecruitment to a full trial of peer support within the existing study design is feasible with some amendments. Attendance emerged as a key issue needing close monitoring and additional intervention during the trial.

Diabetes self-management education: acceptability of using trained lay educators

“…In our study, the role of those educators who had personal experience of diabetes differed from the peer support role (see online supplementary education sessions) described by other authors including Simmons et al 16. Peer status has, however, been previously highlighted as a positive attribute in education provision.…”

Increasing capacity to deliver diabetes self‐management education: results of the DESMOND lay educator non‐randomized controlled equivalence trial

“…Previous evaluations have often been limited by the absence of a control group [17,20,21], or have to date been able to report pilot data only [30]; our findings are based on well-matched intervention and control groups and we included a range of patient outcome measures based on psychological and biomedical benefits and also satisfaction. Previous evaluations have often been limited by the absence of a control group [17,20,21], or have to date been able to report pilot data only [30]; our findings are based on well-matched intervention and control groups and we included a range of patient outcome measures based on psychological and biomedical benefits and also satisfaction.…”

Agentes comunitarios de salud para el autocontrol en diabetes / Community health agents for self-control in diabetes

“…Este proyecto evidenció que los no profesionales pueden ser entrenados para realizar intervenciones que se implementan tradicionalmente por los profesionales de la salud. Por su parte, Simmons et al (2013) reportaron que, al término de un estudio piloto con el apoyo de pares con una duración de dos meses en el Reino Unido, los participantes expresaron el deseo de continuar cumpliendo con sus pares de apoyo, lo que evidenció el valor del programa para las personas con diabetes.…”