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Developing and testing a principle-based fidelity index for peer support in mental health services

Gillard, S; Banach, N; Barlow, E; Byrne, J; Foster, R; Goldsmith, L; Marks, J; McWilliam, C; Morshead, R; Stepanian, K; et al. Gillard, S; Banach, N; Barlow, E; Byrne, J; Foster, R; Goldsmith, L; Marks, J; McWilliam, C; Morshead, R; Stepanian, K; Turner, R; Verey, A; White, S (2021) Developing and testing a principle-based fidelity index for peer support in mental health services. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 56 (10). pp. 1903-1911. ISSN 0933-7954 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02038-4
SGUL Authors: White, Sarah Jane Gillard, Steven George

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Abstract

Purpose Evidence suggests that the distinctive relational qualities of peer support—compared to clinical-patient relationships—can be eroded in regulated healthcare environments. Measurement of fidelity in trials of peer support is lacking. This paper reports the development and testing of a fidelity index for one-to-one peer support in mental health services, designed to assess fidelity to principles that characterise the distinctiveness of peer support. Methods A draft index was developed using expert panels of service user researchers and people doing peer support, informed by an evidence-based, peer support principles framework. Two rounds of testing took place in 24 mental health services providing peer support in a range of settings. Fidelity was assessed through interviews with peer workers, their supervisors and people receiving peer support. Responses were tested for spread and internal consistency, independently double rated for inter-rater reliability, with feedback from interviewees and service user researchers used to refine the index. Results A fidelity index for one-to-one peer support in mental health services was produced with good psychometric properties. Fidelity is assessed in four principle-based domains; building trusting relationships based on shared lived experience; reciprocity and mutuality; leadership, choice and control; building strengths and making connections to community. Conclusions The index offers potential to improve the evidence base for peer support in mental health services, enabling future trials to assess fidelity of interventions to peer support principles, and service providers a means of ensuring that peer support retains its distinctive qualities as it is introduced into mental health services.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: © The Author(s) 2021 Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Keywords: 1103 Clinical Sciences, 1702 Cognitive Sciences, 1701 Psychology, Psychiatry
SGUL Research Institute / Research Centre: Academic Structure > Population Health Research Institute (INPH)
Journal or Publication Title: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
ISSN: 0933-7954
Language: en
Dates:
DateEvent
October 2021Published
19 February 2021Published Online
29 January 2021Accepted
Publisher License: Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Projects:
Project IDFunderFunder ID
RP-PG-1212-20019National Institute for Health Researchhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000272
URI: https://openaccess.sgul.ac.uk/id/eprint/113000
Publisher's version: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02038-4

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