title: Evidence for peer support in rehabilitation for individuals with acquired brain injury: A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematically review the literature on evidence for the application of peer support in the rehabilitation of persons with acquired brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, Embase.com, Ebsco/Cinahl, Ebsco/PsycInfo and Wiley/Cochrane Library were searched from inception up to 19 June 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trials were included describing participants with acquired brain injury in a rehabilitation setting and peer supporters who were specifically assigned to this role.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two independent reviewers assessed metho-dological quality using the PEDro scale. Cohen's kappa was calculated to assess agreement between the reviewers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two randomized controlled trials could be included, both focussing on patients with traumatic brain injury. The randomized controlled trials included a total of 126 participants with traumatic brain injury and 62 care-givers and suggest a positive influence of peer support for traumatic brain injury survivors and their caregivers in areas of social support, coping, behavioural control and physical quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evidence for peer support is limited and restricted to traumatic brain injury. Randomized controlled trials on peer support for patients with other causes of acquired brain injury are lacking. It is important to gain more insight into the effects of peer support and the influence of patient and peer characteristics and the intervention protocol.
authors: Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Centre, Reade, P.O. box 58271, 1040 HG Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.wobma@reade.nl.
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Wobma
authors: Rinske H M
authors: RH
authors: Nijland
authors: Johannes C F
authors: JC
authors: Ket
authors: Gert
authors: G
authors: Kwakkel
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult