Patient and befriender experiences of participating in a befriending programme for adults with psychosis: a qualitative study

Burn, Erin; Chevalier, Agnes; Leverton, Monica; Priebe, Stefan

doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02776-w

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…A recent qualitative study of the experiences of befriendees and befrienders who had participated in a RCT of befriending 76 highlighted the importance of having a flexible approach in relation to the role of the befriender and the nature of the intervention, and that befriending was an authentic relationship that developed over a period of time. 77 Burn et al 77 also discovered that befriending was a considerable commitment for volunteers and necessitated balancing a number of competing commitments, which was also reported in our study. The mutual benefits of befriending was a positive finding in our trial, which indicated that we should not assume that only participants with ID will benefit from the intervention.…”

Section: Acceptability Of the Interventionsupporting

confidence: 79%

One-to-one volunteer befriending to reduce symptoms of depression in people with intellectual disability: a feasibility RCT

et al. 2021

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Background Little is known about the effectiveness of befriending for people with intellectual disability and whether or not befriending improves depressive symptoms and social outcomes. Objective This pilot trial aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of conducting a future full-scale randomised controlled trial of one-to-one befriending for people with intellectual disability who had depressive symptoms. Design This was a parallel-group, two-armed randomised controlled trial incorporating an exploratory economic analysis and a mixed-methods process evaluation. Outcome assessments were conducted at baseline and at 6 months post randomisation by a research assistant who was blind to allocation. We aimed to approach 50 participants, with a view to recruiting 40. Setting Participants with intellectual disability were recruited from one NHS trust and from referrals to two community befriending services. The intervention was delivered by community befriending services. Participants Adults with mild or moderate intellectual disability with a score on the Glasgow Depression Scale for people with a Learning Disability of ≥ 5 were included. Those attending a day service/college for ≥ 3 days a week were excluded. Volunteers were aged ≥ 18 years and had no history of prior convictions. Intervention Participants in the intervention group were matched with a volunteer befriender and were expected to meet once per week for 1 hour, over 6 months. Volunteers recorded activities in a logbook. Volunteers received training and regular supervision. Both groups received usual care and a resource booklet of local activities. Main outcome measures The feasibility outcomes and progression criteria were recruitment of at least 70% of participants approached; matching of at least 70% of participants in the intervention group to a volunteer; a dropout rate of < 30% of participants and volunteers; adherence to the intervention (10 meetings between pairs); acceptability of the intervention; and feasibility of collecting data on costs and resource use for an economic evaluation. Changes in depressive symptoms (primary clinical outcome: Glasgow Depression Scale) and self-esteem, quality of life, social participation, social support, health-related quality of life and service use were recorded at 6 months. Outcomes in volunteers were also assessed. Results We recruited only 16 participants with intellectual disability (40% of target) and 10 volunteers. Six of the eight (75%) participants in the intervention group were matched with a befriender and there was good adherence (mean number of meetings attended 11.8; range 1–21 meetings). Going to a cafe/restaurant and having a conversation were the most frequent activities. All participants were retained at follow-up, but two volunteers dropped out. Trial procedures and the intervention might be acceptable, but modifications were suggested. Data on costs and resource use were obtained, but there were discrepancies in the health-related quality-of-life data. Limitations Delays to the study prevented the use of alternative recruitment strategies and the planned 12-month follow-up could not be completed. Conclusions Recruitment was not feasible, but other feasibility outcomes were more positive. Future work Evaluating befriending for people with intellectual disability could be explored through alternative study designs, such as observational studies. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN63779614. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme and will be published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 9, No. 10. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

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Section: Acceptability Of the Interventionsupporting

confidence: 79%

One-to-one volunteer befriending to reduce symptoms of depression in people with intellectual disability: a feasibility RCT

et al. 2021

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“…On the other hand, with the exception of Lester, et al [ 9 ], previous qualitative research on befriending has focused predominantly on identifying the experiences of the befrienders and/or service users [ 28 – 33 ]. Studies have identified common challenges such as the commitment required and benefits including the development of genuine relationships, companionship [ 32 ], mobility and engagement in various activities [ 33 ]. Qualitative research has not sought to identify or provide information on the mechanisms that produce the outcomes observed in befriending interventions such as the alleviation of loneliness and/or social isolation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How do befriending interventions alleviate loneliness and social isolation among older people? A realist evaluation study

Fakoya¹,

McCorry²,

Donnelly³

2021

PLoS ONE

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Background Befriending is a popular way in which to intervene to combat loneliness and social isolation among older people. However, there is a need to improve our understanding about how these interventions work, for whom and in which contexts, to make the best use of the increasing investment in the provision and delivery of befriending services. Methods A realist evaluation was undertaken as it focuses on uncovering causal processes and interactions between mechanisms and contextual characteristics. Five case studies of befriending programmes in Northern Ireland were studied, reflecting variation in contextual variables, service user and provider characteristics. Data was collected via service documentation and semi-structured interviews (n = 46) with stakeholders involved in the delivery and receipt of befriending interventions. Results Eight initial programme theories were generated, which were ‘tested’ in the case study analysis to uncover context-mechanism-outcome relationships. Mechanisms identified included reciprocity, empathy, autonomy, and privacy which were triggered in different contexts to support the alleviation of loneliness and social isolation. Reciprocity was ‘triggered’ in contexts where service users and befrienders shared characteristics, the befriender was a volunteer and befriending took the form of physical companionship. Contexts characterised in terms of shared experiences between befriender and service user triggered empathy. Autonomy was triggered in contexts where befriending relationships were delivered long-term and did not focus on a pre-defined set of priorities. Privacy was triggered in contexts where service users had a cognitive/sensory impairment and received one-to-one delivery. Conclusion This study improves understanding about how and why befriending interventions work. Findings indicate that services should be tailored to the needs of service users and take into consideration characteristics including mobility, impairments e.g. physical, sensory and/or cognitive, as well as the influence of service characteristics including payment for befrienders, fixed/long-term befriending relationship, one-to-one support and the impact of non-verbal communication via face-to-face delivery.

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“…the placebo in clinical settings) where volunteers provide compassionate social support and companion resources to meet the care needs of the befriender (Siette, Cassidy & Priebe 2017:1). It functions as a kind of 'bridging the gap' (Burn et al 2020) between the foreign, lonely other and the capacity of emphatic concern lurking in the dynamics between I and Thou (Buber 1965).…”

Section: Informal Caregiving -A Feature Of Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

Penetrating xenophobic remoteness in interreligious encounters: Toward a pastoral praxis of befriending neighbouring in ‘pavement caregiving’ and ‘streetwise compassion’

Louw

2022

In die Skriflig / In Luce Verbi

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Meeting the foreign and strange other should be viewed as a natural and inevitable feature of everyday life. When the other is endangering one’s comfort sones, especially in cases of ‘bread-and-butter’ questions, xenophobic fear sets in. Furthermore, when resistance is fuelled by fanatic expressions of religious self-maintenance or racial polarisation, xenophobic remoteness contributes to modes of discriminating suspicion, resistance of the strange other, even violent behaviour and forms of schismatic enmity. The concept of ‘befriending neighbouring’, based on the notion of compassionate being-with, could contribute to informal forms of friendship, the cornerstone for establishing ‘social coherence’. Thus, the question: How can convictions regarding the spiritual meaning of life and the content of religious belief systems, inspire faithful people to build bridges to one another within the normal circumstances of life? This article is a critical reflection on some of the basic presuppositions in some of the main religions and other philosophies of life, concerning the notion of compassion in caring for the strange other and the establishing of a more humane approach to the dynamics of everyday life.Contribution: Pastoral caregiving as a form of community care, should be directed by a praxis of befriending habitus and neighbourly outreach (pavement caregiving) within public spaces of voluntary, compassionate being-with the foreign other (streetwise compassion), in order to overcome discriminating forms of xenophobic remoteness.

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Patient and befriender experiences of participating in a befriending programme for adults with psychosis: a qualitative study

Cited by 7 publications

References 18 publications

One-to-one volunteer befriending to reduce symptoms of depression in people with intellectual disability: a feasibility RCT

One-to-one volunteer befriending to reduce symptoms of depression in people with intellectual disability: a feasibility RCT

How do befriending interventions alleviate loneliness and social isolation among older people? A realist evaluation study

Penetrating xenophobic remoteness in interreligious encounters: Toward a pastoral praxis of befriending neighbouring in ‘pavement caregiving’ and ‘streetwise compassion’

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