Virtual Peer Support in Women's Health for Pregnant People and Mothers With Substance Use Disorder

To evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual peer support group associated with a women's health unit for mothers and pregnant people with substance use disorder.

The project was guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health. Pre-/postintervention surveys were used to evaluate outcomes.

Women's health unit in a 325-bed hospital with 900 births a year in the U.S. Midwest and a virtual online meeting format.

Thirteen people with substance use disorder.

Participants were recruited by nurses on the womens health unit and from existing online peer support meetings. Participants attended a 12-week session of facilitated substance use disorder peer support meetings through an online virtual format. Surveys included the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; the Alcoholics Anonymous Intention Scale; and pre-/postintervention surveys developed by the authors. Descriptive statistics and narrative description of qualitative data were used.

The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale scores were reduced, on average, by 25%, indicating that participants showed improvement in these conditions. Responses to open-ended questions showed that participants found the meetings helpful for developing coping mechanisms. The virtual space was seen as a comfortable, safe space where participants were able to develop community.

Substance use disorder treatment continues to challenge health care providers across the United States. Peer support meetings have been effective in the treatment of people with substance use disorder. Nursing has the holistic historical precedence of creating effectual education and support programs. This program evaluation exemplifies that women's health units are an appropriate location where nurses can integrate this established evidence-based treatment modality.