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Published on: February 19, 2021
The iPeer2Peer mentorship program for adolescent thoracic transplant recipients: An implementation-effectiveness
Samantha J Anthony1, Jia Lin2, Enid K Selkirk2
1Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Social Work, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The iPeer2Peer program, an online peer mentorship initiative, successfully improved self-management skills and reduced depression and anxiety in adolescent thoracic transplant recipients. This pilot study highlights the program's feasibility and effectiveness for this population.
Area of Science:
- Transplant Medicine
- Adolescent Health
- Digital Health Interventions
Background:
- Adolescent thoracic transplant recipients require enhanced self-management skills for improved health outcomes and successful transition to adulthood.
- The iPeer2Peer program is an established online peer mentorship model for chronic disease self-management.
- This study evaluated the iPeer2Peer program's implementation and effectiveness in adolescent thoracic transplant recipients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the implementation outcomes of the iPeer2Peer program for adolescent thoracic transplant recipients.
- To assess the effectiveness of the iPeer2Peer program in improving self-management and mental health outcomes.
- To evaluate the feasibility, adoptability, acceptability, and appropriateness of the program.
Main Methods:
- A hybrid type III, implementation-effectiveness pilot study with a quasi-experimental, single-arm, pre-post design was employed.
- Participants included adolescent mentees (ages 12-17) and young adult peer mentors (ages 18-25) from Canadian transplant centers.
- Mixed methods data collection involved interviews, focus groups, and standardized questionnaires.
Main Results:
- The iPeer2Peer program was found to be feasible, adoptable, acceptable, and appropriate for adolescent thoracic transplant recipients.
- Mentees demonstrated significant improvements in self-management skills.
- A notable decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety was observed among mentees.
Conclusions:
- The pilot iPeer2Peer program demonstrated successful implementation and positive effects on self-management and mental health in adolescent thoracic transplant recipients.
- Further evaluation of scalability, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness is warranted.
- Program modifications for flexible delivery could enhance implementation and acceptance.
