Opportunities and Design Considerations for Peer Support in a Hospital Setting

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare
• Patient support systems
• Health informatics

Background:

• Outpatient peer support demonstrates improved outcomes.
• Hospitalized patients lack accessible peer support mechanisms.
• Peer support is valuable for managing chronic conditions and hospital stays.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the need and opportunities for a hospital-based peer support system for pediatric patients and caregivers.
• To identify key purposes for which hospitalized pediatric patients require peer support.
• To examine barriers and challenges in implementing such a system within a hospital environment.

Main Methods:

• Survey administered to 146 pediatric patients and caregivers.
• Semi-structured interviews conducted with 12 patients and 3 caregivers.
• Thematic analysis of qualitative data to identify support needs and system requirements.

Main Results:

• Hospitalized individuals require peer support for understanding medical details (procedures, treatments, medications).
• Patients need peer support for learning about healthcare providers and reporting/preventing medical errors.
• Emotional support exchange and time management assistance are crucial peer support functions in hospitals.

Conclusions:

• Hospital-based peer support systems are needed to address critical patient needs.
• Designing effective systems requires understanding the unique hospital environment and potential barriers.
• Peer support can enhance the experience and outcomes for hospitalized pediatric patients.