Benefits of peer support for intensive care unit survivors: Sharing experiences, care debriefing, and altruism

Joanne McPeake, Theodore J. Iwashyna, Leanne M. Boehm, Elizabeth Hibbert, Rita N. Bakhru, Anthony J. Bastin, Brad W. Butcher, Tammy L. Eaton, Wendy Harris, Aluko A. Hope, James Jackson, Annie Johnson, Janet A. Kloos, Karen A. Korzick, Joel Meyer, Ashley Montgomery-Yates, Mark E. Mikkelsen, Andrew Slack, Dorothy Wade, Mary StillGiora Netzer, Ramona O. Hopkins, Tara Quasim, Carla M. Sevin, Kimberley J. Haines

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background After critical illness, patients are often left with impairments in physical, social, emotional, and cognitive functioning. Peer support interventions have been implemented internationally to ameliorate these issues. Objective To explore what patients believed to be the key mechanisms of effectiveness of peer support programs implemented during critical care recovery. Methods In a secondary analysis of an international qualitative data set, 66 telephone interviews with patients were undertaken across 14 sites in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to understand the effect of peer support during recovery from critical illness. Prevalent themes were documented with framework analysis. Results Most patients who had been involved in peer support programs reported benefit. Patients described 3 primary mechanisms: (1) sharing experiences, (2) care debriefing, and (3) altruism. Conclusion Peer support is a relatively simple intervention that could be implemented to support patients during recovery from critical illness. However, more research is required into how these programs can be implemented in a safe and sustainable way in clinical practice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)145-149
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Critical Care
Volume30
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care

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