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Peer support telephone calls for improving health
Jeremy Dale1, Isabela O Caramlau, Antje Lindenmeyer
1Health Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill campus, Coventry, Warwickshire, UK, CV4 7AL. jeremy.dale@warwick.ac.uk
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|October 10, 2008
Summary
Peer support telephone calls show promise for improving mammography screening, diet in post-myocardial infarction patients, and breastfeeding continuation. They also reduce depressive symptoms in mothers. However, study quality is a concern.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Public Health Interventions
- Telehealth
Background:
- Peer support telephone calls are utilized for various health concerns.
- Evidence regarding their effectiveness across diverse health outcomes remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of peer support telephone calls on physical, psychological, and behavioral health outcomes.
- To assess other potential benefits of this intervention.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of multiple databases (Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL) and trial registers.
- Inclusion of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) specifically examining telephone-delivered peer support.
- Narrative synthesis of findings due to heterogeneity precluding meta-analysis.
Main Results:
- Seven studies with 2492 participants were included.
- Significant increases in mammography screening uptake were observed.
- Positive effects noted on dietary changes in post-myocardial infarction patients and breastfeeding continuation.
- Reduced depressive symptoms in mothers with postnatal depression were demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- Peer support telephone calls show potential effectiveness for specific health concerns.
- Limited study quality and methodological limitations necessitate cautious interpretation of findings.
- Further high-quality RCTs are required to confirm efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
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