Leveraging Facebook as a Peer-Support Group for Students

2014 ◽  
pp. 195-212
Author(s):  
Joni Salminen
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Technology Barriers ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
Teacher Needs ◽  
User Friendly

This chapter reports the use of Facebook in a Digital Marketing course in a Finnish university as a peer-support group for a course consisting of 80 marketing students. It identifies seven types of student-/teacher-generated content: (1) course-related posts, (2) substance-related posts, (3) course feedback, (4) course recommendations, (5) event posts, (6) job posts, and (7) business-related posts. It also discusses educators’ problems of using social media as a course support. For example, there is a risk of artificial communication if participation is required but motivation for posting is purely extrinsic. Commercial social networks may be useful in education because they are user-friendly, easy to adopt, and involve less friction than systems isolated from students’ day-to-day usage of the Internet. Peer support frees teachers’ time, but it needs to be devised correctly for students to participate. In practice, the teacher needs to invest time and effort in providing interesting content and guidance. More than technology, barriers of peer support relate to social issues and expertise – the students must differ in their substantive knowledge so that peer support is possible, and students must feel comfortable to ask for and provide help. Interestingly, the drop out of students in the group can be kept low even after the course by posting interesting content. In this sense, the group may demonstrate stronger ties than peer support groups that dissolve after the course.

Experiences of Occupational Performance in Survivors of Stroke Attending Peer Support Groups

2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-181
Author(s):  
Sachindri Wijekoon ◽  
Whitney Wilson ◽  
Nicolette Gowan ◽  
Ludmilla Ferreira ◽  
Chetan Phadke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Peer Groups ◽  
Occupational Performance ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Environmental Isolation

Background. Survivors of stroke often experience environmental isolation and decreased occupational performance after discharge from the hospital. Peer groups benefit psychological, social, and cognitive functioning, though few studies have examined their influence on occupational performance of survivors of stroke. Purpose. This study explores the experiences of occupational performance in survivors of stroke attending an outpatient peer support group. Method. An interpretive qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with seven survivors of stroke attending an outpatient peer support group. Data was thematically analyzed. Findings. Four themes related to the experience of peer support on occupational performance emerged: finding hope to return to meaningful occupation, a place for belonging, problem-solving occupational concerns, and finding purpose beyond oneself. Implications. This research adds to the existing literature that peer support groups help survivors of stroke reengage in meaningful occupations, manage their stroke experience, and move positively through recovery.

scholarly journals Correlation between knowledge of WLHA about PMTCT with motivation planning pregnancy in peer support group at Bandung City

2019 ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Kusila Devia Rahayu ◽  
Yanti Herawati ◽  
Gina N Padilah
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Mother To Child ◽  
Hiv Aids

The increasing number of pregnancies of women living with HIV/ AIDS (WLHA) and the number of children living with HIV/AIDS as a result of being infected from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding made researchers feel the need to conduct this study. This study aims to determine the relationship between the knowledge of WLHA about Preventions Mother to Child Transmition (PMTCT)  with the motivation to plan pregnancy in peer support groups in Bandung. This quantitative study was designed using a cross sectional approach to 80 respondents. Data collection was carried out using a knowledge questionnaire about PMTCT and a child bearing questionnaire which was translated. Both instruments passed the validity and reliability tests before use. Data collection was carried out using purposive sampling method. The research data were analyzed using Chi-Square test. The results showed that 82.5% of respondents have good PMTCT knowledge and 61.3% of respondents have low motivation to plan pregnancy. The results of the bivariate analysis showed  p-value 0.03 (P<0.05). This indicated that the knowledge of WLHA about PMTCT was significantly related to the motivation to plan pregnancy in the Peer Support Group in Bandung City. Health workers need to improve their ability to collaborate with peer support groups as a means of providing education so that WLHA knowledge about PMTCT can be increased so that the number of WLHA pregnancies and the number of children with HIV/AIDS does not increase.

scholarly journals HIV-related Peer Support in Dar es Salaam: A Pilot Questionnaire Inquiry

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Anneleen Kiekens ◽  
Joram Dehens ◽  
Maud de Hemptinne ◽  
Michaël Galouchka ◽  
Cedric Vanhoorebeeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
Dar Es Salaam ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Education ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
Adherence Support

Abstract HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) in Tanzania is a complex problem with many interconnected causes. Some important factors contributing to the selection of drug resistant viruses in people infected with HIV are stigma, poverty, poor health, illiteracy, and insufficient adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Several studies have suggested the implementation of peer support groups as a way to shift the workload associated with adherence support, antiretroviral therapy (ART) distribution, and HIV education away from the doctors to the people living with HIV (PLHIV) themselves. We conducted interviews with local PLHIV to investigate the desirability and feasibility of a peer support group in the Pasada and Kisarawe hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A standardized questionnaire was completed by 27 PLHIV in July and August 2017 at the time of a follow-up visit. In this cohort, major causes for missing a dose of ART are lack of support from family and friends and forgetfulness. Reasons for wanting to join <target target-type="page-num" id="p-2"/>a peer support group include psychological support, fighting stigma, and increasing education about their disease. Interestingly, several respondents linked HIV peer support to business support groups such as village community banks (VICOBA). These are informal microfinance groups meant to offer economic stability to individuals. As this link was made by PLHIV themselves, we suggest that it may be worthwhile to explore mixed financial and HIV peer support groups in which HIV education is provided for both HIV positive and negative members. Such groups may reduce the risk of infection and stigma and provide combined psychological, financial, and logistic support to PLHIV.

Genderdysforie en ASS

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Brandsma ◽  
Kirsten Visser
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Gender Variance ◽  
Medical Interventions ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Gender Presentation ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

There is a growing interest in the co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and gender dysphoria (GD). Research has shown that people with ASD show more gender variance than people without ASD. Due to the difficulties associated with ASD (limited social skills, problems in information processing and difficulty with change), regular GD treatment does not seem to be adequately equipped for this specific group. In this study we want to gain insight into the clinical needs of adolescents with ASD and GD and their parents. We are conducting a pilot study to the effects of a specific peer support group for adolescents with ASD and GD on quality of life. A pre-posttest design is used. Prior to the start of the support group, during each meeting and at the end of the support group, the adolescents fill out several short questionnaires. The ASD and Gender support group consists of nine monthly meetings for the adolescents, covering topics such as autism and gender-related needs, psychoeducation on medical interventions, environmental factors, gender expression and practicing gender presentation skills. Simultaneously, parents can follow the parent meetings. Currently, three rounds of the peer support group have started (each round with about 10-12 adolescents).

Patient-reported barriers to online meetings: The case of a myeloma support group in western Kenya in the era of COVID-19.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e24036-e24036
Author(s):  
Mercy Oduor ◽  
Kelvin Manyega ◽  
Therese Lotodo ◽  
Austin Okuku ◽  
Diana Namaemba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
Patient Support Group ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Group Meetings

e24036 Background: Multiple myeloma is a chronic progressive disease that calls for extended survivorship support post-diagnosis. Pre- COVID-19, the AMPATH Multiple Myeloma Program had created support groups for myeloma survivors and their caregivers that regularly met for health education, emotional support, and social opportunities. With the enforcement COVID-19 prevention and control protocols physical support group meetings became impossible. The program shifted to the online platform to sustain peer to peer support for myeloma patients and caregivers. We aim to describe challenges faced with online patient support group meetings as this has not been well documented in a resource-constrained setting. Methods: Myeloma patients and caregivers at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital were contacted and a meeting date and time agreed. Participants were briefed on how to download and operate the zoom application in preparation for online meetings. A meeting link was shared with the expected attendees and a reminder sent two days before a meeting. Support group meetings were held for different groups among them myeloma survivors and caregivers. The meeting sessions were led by healthcare professionals – hematology consultants, social workers, nutritionist and psychosocial counsellors. Peer-to-peer sessions were also held. Results: Six online meeting sessions were held between June 2020 and December 2020. A total of 199 participants were expected to join the six different meetings but a low meeting turn-out of 25.6% was experienced. Participants were later contacted to unravel the reasons for a low turn-out. A total of 129 participants were contacted of which 88 responded. Out of the 88 respondents, 29% reported a tight work schedule, 25% short time meeting alerts, 20% did not have access to smartphones, and 8% had poor internet connectivity and another 8% reported no internet data bundles to connect to the internet. Conclusions: Low attendance of online meetings was observed. Participants cited scheduling and internet access as major obstacles to attending online support group meetings. Improved access to the internet through smartphones, reliable internet connection, and affordable data are needed in underserved communities to fully unlock the benefits of virtual platforms namely cost savings and effective information sharing.

scholarly journals Peer support for adolescent girls living with scoliosis: finding a digital community

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-11
Author(s):  
Marie Vigouroux ◽  
Kristina Amja ◽  
Richard B. Hovey
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Level Of Involvement ◽  
Philosophical Hermeneutic ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
Digital Community ◽  
The Individual

Introduction : Scoliosis in a condition where a curve develops in the spine. Adolescent girls affected by scoliosis are significantly more likely to require treatment such as bracing or surgery than their male counterparts. Curvy Girls is a peer support group for adolescent girls with scoliosis that allows them to engage with each other in a safe environment. Objectives : This study endeavours to explore the experiences of adolescent girls living with scoliosis who are Curvy Girls members and understand how this peer support group has affected their experience. Approach : Sixteen participants were recruited through a senior board member of Curvy Girls. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using an applied philosophical hermeneutic approach, a practice of uncovering insights from transformational conversation. Findings : We found that the participants’ sense of belonging to Curvy Girls did not depend on their level of involvement with the group. Whether they were leaders in their in-person local group, or simply following the organization on social media, seeing themselves represented allowed the participants to feel like they belonged to the group. Future Directions : These findings may help clinicians, healthcare professionals, and peer support organisations deepen their understanding of the perspectives of this specific population. This transformed understanding could lead to the instauration of care and services that are better adapted to this population’s needs, resulting in lessening the burden of the condition on the individual and their support system.  

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