Peer Support

Peer support involves the provision of assistance, guidance, and mutual aid among individuals who share similar experiences, challenges, or circumstances. Following discharge from hospital with a newly acquired SCI, patients often report feeling emotionally overwhelmed, socially isolated, and lacking in the competence and confidence needed to assume responsibility for their care needs (Barclay-Goddard et al. 2012). Peer support through mentoring and peer-led instruction has been shown to improve self-efficacy, due in part to greater effort put forth when individuals learn from others, they perceive to be similar to themselves (Lorig et al. 2001). As self-efficacy has been shown to be negatively associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety in individuals with SCI it may be expected to benefit symptoms of depression (van Diemen et al. 2017). Several studies assessed the impact of peer support on symptoms of depression in individuals with SCI.

Discussion

One RCT evaluated the effectiveness of a peer led telephone counselling program for persons with SCI compared to usual care. The study found no significant difference in depression severity or quality of life in the treatment group compared to the control group (p>0.05). Two pre-post studies examined the effectiveness of peer mentoring on depression post SCI. Jones et al. (2021) found a significant increase in self-efficacy post intervention; however, no significant reduction in depressive symptoms were seen. Hoffman et al. (2019) provided peer mentorships to adults admitted into inpatient SCI rehabilitation. The study found significant improvement in 5 out of the 9 depression items on the SF-36.

Conclusion

There is level 1b evidence that peer led telephone counselling may not be effective in reducing symptoms of depression.