title: Testing a peer support intervention for people with type 2 diabetes: a pilot for a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People with Type 2 diabetes face various psycho-social, self-management and clinical care issues and evidence is mixed whether support from others with diabetes, 'peer support', can help. We now describe a 2 month pilot study of different peer support interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention was informed by formative evaluation using semi-structured interviews with health professionals, community support groups and observation of diabetes education and support groups. Invitations to participate were mailed from 4 general practices and included a survey of barriers to care. Participants were randomized by practice to receive individual, group, combined (both individual and group) or no peer support. Evaluation included ethnographic observation, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires at baseline and post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1,101 invited, 15% expressed an interest in participating in the pilot. Sufficient numbers volunteered to become peer supporters, although 50% of these (8/16) withdrew. Those in the pilot were similar to other patients, but were less likely to feel they knew enough about diabetes (60.8% vs 44.6% p = 0.035) and less likely to be happy with the diabetes education/care to date (75.4% vs 55.4% p = 0.013). Key issues identified were the need to recruit peer supporters directly rather than through clinicians, to address participant diabetes educational needs early and the potential for group sessions to have lower participation rates than 1:1 sessions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recruitment to a full trial of peer support within the existing study design is feasible with some amendments. Attendance emerged as a key issue needing close monitoring and additional intervention during the trial.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK. david.simmons@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bunn
authors.forename: Kym
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donald
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paddison
authors.forename: Candice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Robins
authors.forename: A Toby
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Prevost
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Graffy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires