title: What Peer Mentoring Adds to Already Good Patient Care: Implementing the Carpeta Roja Peer Mentoring Program in a Well-Resourced Health Care System.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a peer support program on the health outcomes of patients already receiving well-organized, comprehensive diabetes care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a mixed-methods, nonrandomized, control-group design to evaluate the impact of a peer-mentoring program on the health outcomes and self-management behaviors of adults with type 2 diabetes in 15 primary care practices in San Antonio. Propensity score analysis, t-tests, and multivariable repeated analyses were used to evaluate impact. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 participants in the intervention group and analyzed using a grounded theory approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both intervention and control groups showed significant improvement on all health indicators from baseline to 6-month follow-up (P<.001). Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) decreased slightly faster for patients in the intervention group (P=.04). Self-management behaviors improved significantly from baseline to 6-month follow-up for the intervention group. Interviewed participants also reported reductions in social isolation and extension of impact of health behavior changes to multiple generations of family members.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of peer mentoring to already well-organized comprehensive diabetes care does not improve outcomes. However, findings suggest that the impact of the program extends to members of the participants' families, which is an intriguing finding that deserves further study.
authors: LA Net Community Health Resource and Research Network, Los Angeles, California lyndee.knox@gmail.com.
authors: Lyndee
authors: L
authors: Knox
authors: Danbury Hospital Department of Medical Education and Research, Danbury, Connecticut.
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Huff
authors: DARTNet Institute, Aurora, Colorado.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Graham
authors: WellMed Medical Management, Inc, San Antonio, Texas.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Henry
authors: Latino Health Access, Santa Ana, California.
authors: America
authors: A
authors: Bracho
authors: WellMed Medical Management, Inc, San Antonio, Texas.
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Henderson
authors: Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Emsermann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D013781:Texas; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: diabetes; peer mentoring; peer support