Expectations and experiences of peer mentors in supporting people with osteoarthritis and socioeconomic disadvantage: a multi-method exploration of challenges and lessons learned

Introduction

Osteoarthritis and other multiple long-term conditions disproportionately affect people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, leading to complex and intersecting health and wellbeing needs. Peer mentorship can support self-management and complement condition specific care. Delivering effective peer mentorship remains challenging.

The overall study aim was to develop and assess feasibility and perceived usefulness of a remotely delivered osteoarthritis peer mentorship intervention. This paper explores peer mentors’ experiences of delivering the peer mentorship programme, their preparedness for the role and the challenges they faced.

Methods

Fourteen volunteers were trained as peer mentors to deliver the peer mentorship programme to 30 mentees. Mentors completed training evaluations, summaries of mentorship sessions and participated in a semi-structured qualitative interview. Data sources were combined to form a narrative of the peer mentors’ perceptions and experiences, pre and post intervention delivery.

Results

Twelve peer mentors completed training evaluations, sessions summaries and were interviewed. Three key themes were developed: aligning expectations of the peer mentoring role with mentoring experience; preparedness for peer mentoring; and peer mentorship delivery challenges.

Conclusions

Peer mentorship is a potentially valuable approach to supporting people to self-manage long-term conditions such as osteoarthritis. Findings offer practical insights for designing peer mentorship programmes that align with mentors’ expectations, provide adequate preparation and support, and address challenges to effective delivery.

Patient and Public Contribution

Public contributors with hip and knee OA and experience of socioeconomic disadvantage helped develop the programme, test remote delivery and recruit mentees. They contributed to peer mentor training and supported peer mentors to deliver the programme.