Lavender, EC orcid.org/0000-0003-0226-8847, Dusabe-Richards, E orcid.org/0000-0003-3568-9023, Anderson, AM orcid.org/0000-0002-4048-6880 et al. (5 more authors) (2022) Exploring the feasibility, acceptability and value of volunteer peer mentors in supporting self-management of osteoarthritis: A qualitative evaluation. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44 (21). pp. 6314-6324. ISSN 0963-8288
Abstract
Background
Hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) affect a large and growing proportion of the population. Treatment options are typically conservative making self-management a priority. Using trained peers to support individuals with OA has potential to improve self-management.
Purpose
To explore the process of engaging and training volunteers to become peer mentors; and to qualitatively evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and value of being a peer mentor to support others’ self-management of OA.
Materials and methods
A qualitative evaluation of a peer mentorship support intervention reporting the processes of recruitment and training; and semi-structured interviews conducted with nine active peer mentors. Transcribed interviews were coded and analysed using framework analysis.
Results
It was possible to recruit, train and retain volunteers with OA to become peer mentors. The peer mentors benefitted from their training and felt equipped to deliver the intervention. They enjoyed social elements of the mentorship intervention and gained satisfaction through delivering valued support to mentees. Peer mentors perceived the mentorship intervention to have a positive impact on self-management of OA for mentees.
Conclusion
Training volunteers with OA to become peer mentors was feasible and acceptable. Peer mentors perceived their support benefitted others with OA. They positively rated their experience of providing mentorship support.
IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION
This study demonstrates that it is possible to recruit, train and engage older volunteers to become peer mentors for people with osteoarthritis.
Training should highlight the significance of employing key self-management techniques such as goal-setting.
Peer mentors acknowledged that they benefitted from training and delivering the mentorship intervention, and this impacted positively on their own osteoarthritis self-management.
Careful consideration of matching mentors and mentees appears to enhance the success of mentorship support.
Recognising the impact of mentorship support on mentees’ self-management is central to peer mentors’ sustained engagement with the intervention.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Keywords: | older volunteers; osteoarthritis; Peer mentors; qualitative study; self-management |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of Languages Cultures & Societies (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Midwifery (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Nursing Adult (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Institute of Rheumatology & Musculoskeletal Medicine (LIRMM) (Leeds) > Musculoskeletal Medicine & Imaging (Leeds) > RMMI Research and Support (LIRMM) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number NIHR National Inst Health Research PB-PG-1215-20012 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 23 Aug 2021 11:37 |
Last Modified: | 29 Nov 2022 03:31 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor and Francis |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/09638288.2021.1964625 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:177200 |