scholarly journals Strategies to Increase Peer Support Specialists’ Capacity to Use Digital Technology in the Era of COVID-19: Pre-Post Study

10.2196/20429 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. e20429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L Fortuna ◽  
Amanda L Myers ◽  
Danielle Walsh ◽  
Robert Walker ◽  
George Mois ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Simulation Training ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Audit And Feedback ◽  
Telemental Health ◽  
Upward Trend ◽  
The Impact

Background Prior to the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), telemental health to support mental health services was primarily designed for individuals with professional clinical degrees, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, registered nurses, and licensed clinical social workers. For the first the time in history, peer support specialists are offering Medicaid-reimbursable telemental health services during the COVID-19 crisis; however, little effort has been made to train peer support specialists on telehealth practice and delivery. Objective The aim of this study was to explore the impact of the Digital Peer Support Certification on peer support specialists’ capacity to use digital peer support technology. Methods The Digital Peer Support Certification was co-produced with peer support specialists and included an education and simulation training session, synchronous and asynchronous support services, and audit and feedback. Participants included 9 certified peer support specialists between the ages of 25 and 54 years (mean 39 years) who were employed as peer support specialists for 1 to 11 years (mean 4.25 years) and had access to a work-funded smartphone device and data plan. A pre-post design was implemented to examine the impact of the Digital Peer Support Certification on peer support specialists’ capacity to use technology over a 3-month timeframe. Data were collected at baseline, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months. Results Overall, an upward trend in peer support specialists’ capacity to offer digital peer support occurred during the 3-month certification period. Conclusions The Digital Peer Support Certification shows promising evidence of increasing the capacity of peer support specialists to use specific digital peer support technology features. Our findings also highlighted that this capacity was less likely to increase with training alone and that a combinational knowledge translation approach that includes both training and management will be more successful.

scholarly journals Strategies to Increase Peer Support Specialists’ Capacity to Use Digital Technology in the Era of COVID-19: Pre-Post Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L Fortuna ◽  
Amanda L Myers ◽  
Danielle Walsh ◽  
Robert Walker ◽  
George Mois ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Simulation Training ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Audit And Feedback ◽  
Telemental Health ◽  
Upward Trend ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Prior to the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), telemental health to support mental health services was primarily designed for individuals with professional clinical degrees, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, registered nurses, and licensed clinical social workers. For the first the time in history, peer support specialists are offering Medicaid-reimbursable telemental health services during the COVID-19 crisis; however, little effort has been made to train peer support specialists on telehealth practice and delivery. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore the impact of the Digital Peer Support Certification on peer support specialists’ capacity to use digital peer support technology. METHODS The Digital Peer Support Certification was co-produced with peer support specialists and included an education and simulation training session, synchronous and asynchronous support services, and audit and feedback. Participants included 9 certified peer support specialists between the ages of 25 and 54 years (mean 39 years) who were employed as peer support specialists for 1 to 11 years (mean 4.25 years) and had access to a work-funded smartphone device and data plan. A pre-post design was implemented to examine the impact of the Digital Peer Support Certification on peer support specialists’ capacity to use technology over a 3-month timeframe. Data were collected at baseline, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months. RESULTS Overall, an upward trend in peer support specialists’ capacity to offer digital peer support occurred during the 3-month certification period. CONCLUSIONS The Digital Peer Support Certification shows promising evidence of increasing the capacity of peer support specialists to use specific digital peer support technology features. Our findings also highlighted that this capacity was less likely to increase with training alone and that a combinational knowledge translation approach that includes both training and management will be more successful.

scholarly journals A systematic review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of peer-based interventions to maintain and improve offender health in prison settings

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (35) ◽  
pp. 1-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane South ◽  
Anne-Marie Bagnall ◽  
Claire Hulme ◽  
James Woodall ◽  
Roberta Longo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Prisoner Health ◽  
Prison Environment ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Positive Effect

BackgroundOffender health is deemed a priority issue by the Department of Health. Peer support is an established feature of prison life in England and Wales; however, more needs to be known about the effectiveness of peer-based interventions to maintain and improve health in prison settings.ObjectivesThe study aimed to synthesise the evidence on peer-based interventions in prison settings by carrying out a systematic review and holding an expert symposium. Review questions were (1) what are the effects of peer-based interventions on prisoner health and the determinants of prisoner health?, (2) what are the positive and negative impacts on health services within prison settings of delivering peer-based interventions?, (3) how do the effects of peer-based approaches compare with those of professionally led approaches? and (4) what are the costs and cost-effectiveness of peer-based interventions in prison settings?Data sourcesFor the systematic review, 20 electronic databases including MEDLINE, PsycINFO, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and EMBASE were searched from 1985. Grey literature and relevant websites were also searched. To supplement the review findings 58 delegates, representing a variety of organisations, attended an expert symposium, which provided contextual information.Review methodsTwo reviewers independently selected studies using the following inclusion criteria: population – prisoners resident in prisons and young offender institutions; intervention – peer-based interventions; comparators: review questions 3 and 4 compared peer-led and professionally led approaches; outcomes – prisoner health or determinants of health, organisational/process outcomes or views of prison populations; study design: quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods evaluations. Two reviewers extracted data and assessed validity using piloted electronic forms and validity assessment criteria based on published checklists. Results from quantitative studies were combined using narrative summary and meta-analysis when appropriate; results from qualitative studies were combined using thematic synthesis.ResultsA total of 15,320 potentially relevant papers were identified of which 57 studies were included in the effectiveness review and one study was included in the cost-effectiveness review; most were of poor methodological quality. A typology of peer-based interventions was developed. Evidence suggested that peer education interventions are effective at reducing risky behaviours and that peer support services provide an acceptable source of help within the prison environment and have a positive effect on recipients; the strongest evidence came from the Listener scheme. Consistent evidence from many predominantly qualitative studies suggested that being a peer deliverer was associated with positive effects across all intervention types. There was limited evidence about recruitment of peer deliverers. Recurring themes were the importance of prison managerial and staff support for schemes to operate successfully, and risk management. There was little evidence on the cost-effectiveness of peer-based interventions. An economic model, developed from the results of the effectiveness review, although based on data of variable quality and a number of assumptions, showed the cost-effectiveness of peer-led over professionally led education in prison for the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.LimitationsThe 58 included studies were, on the whole, of poor methodological quality.ConclusionsThere is consistent evidence from a large number of studies that being a peer worker is associated with positive health. Peer support services can also provide an acceptable source of help within the prison environment and can have a positive effect on recipients. This was confirmed by expert evidence. Research into cost-effectiveness is sparse but a limited HIV-specific economic model, although based on a number of assumptions and evidence of variable quality, showed that peer interventions were cost-effective compared with professionally led interventions. Well-designed intervention studies are needed to provide robust evidence including assessing outcomes for the target population, economic analysis of cost-effectiveness and impacts on prison health services. More research is needed to examine issues of reach, utilisation and acceptability from the perspective of recipients and those who choose not to receive peer support.Study registrationThis study was registered as PROSPERO CRD42012002349.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

Telemental Health Services for Indigenous Communities in Australia

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sisira Edirippulige ◽  
Matthew Bambling ◽  
Pablo Fernandez
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Indigenous Population ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Mental Health Disorder ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Telemental Health ◽  
Indigenous Australian ◽  
Health Indices ◽  
The Impact

Telemental health has been recognized as one of the key methods to closing disparities in health indices in the indigenous Australian populations. The conditions in which Australia’s indigenous communities are presently living have also been equated with parts of the world with limited resources. There is a rationale for exploring opportunities for using telemental health and study its effectiveness in this population This chapter discusses the high burden of mental health disorder among the indigenous population, the telemental health initiative to provide mental health services for these isolated communities, and the impact of these initiative on the wellbeing of the recipients. Chapter concludes with barriers to provide these services and potential solutions in the Australian context.

scholarly journals National telemental health responses to a major bushfire disaster

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 226-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lennart Reifels ◽  
Bridget Bassilios ◽  
Jane Pirkis
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Telemental Health ◽  
Service Access ◽  
Service Demand ◽  
Counselling Services ◽  
Related Service ◽  
Health Services Need ◽  
Crisis Support ◽  
The Impact

In response to the Victorian bushfire disaster in 2009, various telemental health services were provided by three national agencies: Kids Helpline (BoysTown), MensLine Australia (Crisis Support Services) and Lifeline Australia. All provider agencies used their existing national service structures and staff resources, which were expanded to respond to bushfire-related service demand. We examined service provider reports and conducted key informant interviews. Despite a lack of quantitative data on consumer outcomes and perspectives, it appears that all three telemental health services experienced significant increases in overall service uptake levels in the wake of the bushfires. Uptake of specialized telephone-, web-, email- and crisis counselling services was substantial, although that of callback services was very limited. Potential clients encountered specific barriers in relation to service access and the callback model. The bushfire experience highlighted the impact of transitory living circumstances and the increased complexity of post-disaster calls on service provision. Telemental health services need to be integrated into mainstream services and disaster response structures.

A Typology of Caregiving Situations and Service Use in Family Carers of Older People in Six European Countries

GeroPsych ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirko Di Rosa ◽  
Christopher Kofahl ◽  
Kevin McKee ◽  
Barbara Bień ◽  
Giovanni Lamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Older People ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Service Use ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
Typology Of Care

This paper presents the EUROFAMCARE study findings, examining a typology of care situations for family carers of older people, and the interplay of carers with social and health services. Despite the complexity of family caregiving situations across Europe, our analyses determined the existence of seven “caregiving situations,” varying on a range of critical indicators. Our study also describes the availability and use of different support services for carers and care receivers, and carers’ preferences for the characteristics of support services. Our findings have relevance for policy initiatives in Europe, where limited resources need to be more equitably distributed and services should be targeted to caregiving situations reflecting the greatest need, and organized to reflect the preferences of family carers.

Harnessing Digital Technology to Strengthen the Culture of Reading at Public Libraries in South Africa

Mousaion ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry Ramothupi Matolong
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Pilot Phase ◽  
Impact Measurement ◽  
Private Company ◽  
Line Survey ◽  
Gates Foundation ◽  
Formed Part ◽  
The Impact

Statistics and numerous authors have highlighted the reading crisis in South Africa. At the same instance, more people in South Africa are embracing the potential of digital technology to provide lifelong learning opportunities and also to strengthen the culture of reading. This study is framed against the backdrop and implementation of the Mzansi Libraries On-Line Project in South Africa – a project implemented in line with the Global Libraries Programme of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The study explored the potential of access to information of digital technology and the contribution of the project to inculcating a culture of reading at public libraries. A benchmark survey was conducted by an independent research company during the pilot phase of the project in 2015. This survey covered library users of the 27 libraries that formed part of the pilot phase, and a further 25 libraries from a representative sample across South Africa. An end-line survey was conducted through a private company towards the conclusion of the countrywide implementation in 2017, based on the Common Impact Measurement System which was customised for South Africa. The benchmark survey found that although ICT in libraries had been used by relatively few people in 2015, the impact of this technology tended to be positive and would be beneficial to the wider society by helping to redress societal imbalances, including education and the culture of reading. The end-line survey found increased benefits of library usage and library technical infrastructure to improve the lives of the communities involved.

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