Short-term effects of a peer co-led educational programme delivered before mental health treatment: A randomised...

To investigate the 1-month effects of an educational programme co-led by peers delivered before treatment on treatment preferences, self-management knowledge and motivation in comparison to usual care.

Adults referred to a community mental health centre were randomised to either a control group (n=48) or a peer co-led educational programme (intervention group, n=45). The programme consisted of an 8-hour group education session followed by an individual pretreatment planning session. The main topics of the educational programme were treatment options, patients' rights, self-management, the importance of patient activation and participation.

At 1-month follow-up, a significantly larger proportion of the patients in the intervention group knew which type of treatment they preferred (76.7% vs. 32.5%, p<0.001). The intervention group had significantly higher self-management knowledge (p<0.001). There was no effect on treatment motivation (p=0.543).

At 1-month following the delivery of a pretreatment educational programme, we found that participants' knowledge of treatment preferences and self-management had improved.

Educational interventions co-led by peers can optimise the process of informing and educating outpatients, thereby helping patients to clarify their treatment preferences.