Patient Perspectives on Peer Mentoring

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of the study was to identify attitudes and topics relevant to peer mentoring as an adherence-promoting intervention for adolescents and young adults (YAs) with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods Self-administered survey data were collected in two diabetes clinics from a convenience sample of adolescents as prospective mentees (ages 13–18) and YAs as prospective mentors (ages 19–25) with T1D. Survey topics included demographics, disease history, glycemic control, adherence, depression, barriers to disease management, social support, and interest in peer mentoring. Descriptive statistical analyses, thematic coding, and stepwise multivariate logistic regression were performed. Results A majority of the 54 adolescents and 46 YAs expressed interest in a peer mentoring program. Having supportive friends and living in a large household positively predicted adolescent interest in having a peer mentor. Approximately one third of all participants experienced social barriers to diabetes management. For adolescents, barriers included inflexible schedules, unfamiliar foods, and the embarrassment of checking blood glucose in front of others. Young adults reported barriers in tracking food consumption and remembering to check blood glucose. Various diabetes management skills were in high demand by adolescents, who especially desired to learn about managing T1D on their own and in college. Participants were open to multiple communication modes, including in-person meetings, phone, text messaging, and social media. Conclusions Many adolescents and young adults with T1D are interested in peer mentoring as a way to facilitate learning and sharing essential diabetes management skills and experiences.

PREP-T1 (Preteen Re-Education With Parents–Type 1 Diabetes) Feasibility Intervention Results

“…Thus, in the powered study, we will seek out a more diverse sample of family dyads. The preteens in this study were positive about continuing the relationship with the TEM similar to the findings recently reported by Lu et al (2015). Parents were positive about the TEM as well, and felt that the advice and guidance provided by the TEM gave them power to negotiate with their preteens.…”

“…For instance, teen mentors educated school-age children about healthy lifestyles in an obesity prevention intervention based in Appalachia (Smith, 2011). In addition, a recent survey suggested that adults with T1D saw the value in being a mentor to teens as they navigate adolescence; teens also saw great value in having access to someone older and wiser for informational and emotional support around DSM issues (Lu et al, 2015). We also found receptivity by all when offering both preteen and parent support coupled with DSM education that addresses the unique issues of concern for parents and encourages shared management with preteens (using an innovative action-oriented activity; Hughes et al, 2015).…”

“…Most of the recent diabetes self-management (DSM) empirical intervention literature has focused on the adolescent transition period (Lu et al, 2015; Peters & Laffel, 2011; Wysocki et al, 2007) with little attention specifically on the preteen age group. A recent systematic review (Lohan, Morawska, & Mitchell, 2015) of parenting interventions for children with T1D reported that among the seven articles (six studies) chosen for review, four included preteen age range of 9 to 12, but none of those studies included the child in the intervention.…”

Using Photo-Elicitation to Explore Young Adult Perspectives on Coping with Type 1 Diabetes

“…Sharing their experiences and seeing the accomplishments of other people with diabetes was uniquely gratifying for these young adults. This was a core theme throughout this study, and it demonstrates the benefits of peer mentoring and support highlighted in previous research on young adults with diabetes [25]. Social connections allow for these young adults living with a chronic condition to feel normal with others like themselves.…”

“They Think It’s Helpful, but It’s Not”: a Qualitative Analysis of the Experience of Social Support Provided by Peers in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

“…Here, diabetes-specific support was more likely to be accepted if the provider also had T1D. Indeed, peer mentoring has been found to improve diabetes outcomes in AWT1D via increased acceptability of advice and improvement in health literacy [70][71][72][73]. A further explanation may lie in the phenomena of identity fusion [74].…”