Who wants to be a peer support facilitator? Early data from RAPSID: randomised controlled trial of peer support in Diabetes

Simmons, D., Bunn, C. and Graffy, J. (2012) Who wants to be a peer support facilitator? Early data from RAPSID: randomised controlled trial of peer support in Diabetes. In: 72nd Scientific Session of the American Diabetes Association, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 8-12 Jun 2012,

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Publisher's URL: http://ada.apprisor.org/epsAbstract.cfm?compid=1&id=2

Abstract

New approaches are needed to support people with diabetes achieve their care goals. RAPSID is testing whether trained Peer Support Facilitators (PSFs: people with diabetes who provide practical and personal support to others, chosen because they have personal experience of diabetes and are able to relate well to other patients) can facilitate self care. People with Type 2 diabetes are recruited by poster/ practice mailout and invited to be a PSF. We compare the clinical characteristics and perceived barriers to diabetes care of potential PSFs (PPSFs) vs others. From over 20000 invitations, 1469 expressed an interest in participating in RAPSID of whom 834 (57%) were interested in being a PSF. Demographic/ clinical characteristics and barriers to care (27 closed questions with yes/no/don’t know answers - with no/don’t know grouped for analysis) were surveyed. Compared with others, PPSFs were similar in terms of age (64±10 y), diabetes duration (9±7 y), time from last care contact (3±3 months), gender (60% male), glucose monitoring (50%), tablet/insulin treatment (77/18%), smoking (9%), self reported complications (27%) and proportions reporting knowing enough about diabetes (47%), knowing/being able to access/being comfortable to talk with (65/74/86%) their diabetes team, being ‘happy’ with their medications (72%) and having enough family/community (73/54%) help. PPSFs were more likely to report being able to afford to have diabetes (54 vs 48% p=0.008), to have all the services they need (71% vs 62% p=0.002), be happy with how their diabetes care is organised (78 vs 74% p=0.025), feel that others need to know more about diabetes (51% vs 42% p=0.009) and feel able to look after their diabetes (85% vs 78% p=0.004), We conclude that people with Type 2 diabetes wishing to be a PSF were more positive about several aspects of care and self care than others. Comparisons of personality and metabolic characteristics might also be useful in identifying effective PSFs

Item Type:Conference Proceedings
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bunn, Dr Christopher
Authors: Simmons, D., Bunn, C., and Graffy, J.
Subjects:H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Social Scientists working in Health and Wellbeing
College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences

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