title: Reciprocal Peer Support for Post-partum Patients with Diabetes: A Needs Assessment for the Diabetes Buddy Program.
abstract: While peer support has been investigated in multiple clinical contexts, its application to the postpartum setting is unknown. The aim was to assess acceptability of a postpartum peer support program for women with diabetes. Observational survey-based needs assessment of forty low-income women with diabetes, receiving care at a major medical institution. Mean age and gravidity were 30.7 years and 3.15 ± 1.67 respectively. 45 % expressed interest in a "buddy." There was no significant difference between groups desiring and not desiring this program. A majority of respondents desired telephone, text messaging, and in-person contacts (79.2, 72.1, 83.8 %), with 72.5 % of patients desiring diabetes-related activities during clinic waiting time. Many women desire a postpartum diabetes reciprocal peer program for support outside of clinician visits. Patients are receptive to educational services during their wait and outside of clinic time, a potentially valuable opportunity to share important health information.
authors.affiliation: Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Brown University, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI, 02905, USA. mfriedman@wihri.org.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexandra Friedman
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Charlotte M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Niznik
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Janelle R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bolden
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Yee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010379:Peer Group; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060145:Text Messaging; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Gestational diabetes; Peer support; Postpartum period; Pregnancy; Type 2 diabetes mellitus