IMPACT: THE EVIDENCE

Reduced re-hospitalization rates

• Recovery Innovations in Arizona saw a 56% reduction in hospital readmission rates after presence of Peer Support

• Pierce County Washington reduced involuntary hospitalization by 32% leading to a savings of 1.99 million dollars in one year

• Optum Pierce Peer Bridger programs served 125 people and had 79.2% reduction in hospital admission year over year resulting in $550,215 in savings; 100% of consumers had been hospitalized prior to having peer coach, only 3.4% were hospitalized after getting a coach

Increased quality of life outcomes

• Instillation of hope through positive self-disclosure, role modeling self-care of one’s illness, empathy & conditional regard may lead to higher demands/expectations for clientsxvii

• A meta-analysis showed peer support is superior to usual care in reducing depressive symptoms.i

• Individuals receiving peer support are more likely to have employment.

• Peer support improves symptoms of depression more than care as usual.

• A Mental Health America and Kaiser Permanente Pilot Study showed an increased ability

  to meet participants’ social needs with interventions in the community and improved ability

  to address gaps following inpatient services like housing and access to medications.

• Veterans in a peer-to-peer program had significantly higher senses of empowerment and

  confidence

• A metasynthesis showed that those receiving peer support services had increased social

  networks.

Peers for Progress Analysis on Peer Support for Physical Conditions

From randomized-controlled trials to qualitative studies, the projects supported by Peers for Progress demonstrated strong evidence for peer support in terms of feasibility, reach and engagement, effectiveness, sustainability, and spread and adoption. The research presented at the conference focused on applications to diabetes care, but peer support and the concerns of Peers for Progress extend far beyond to include asthma, heart disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, and mental health.

Highlights of the findings include:

• Feasibility across widely divergent systems, populations, and levels of program resources

  Fourteen programs implemented in nine countries on six continents, many in severely under resourced settings

• Reach, engagement and retention among high proportions of intended populations, including those “hardly reached”
  Reached and retained for two years 89% of low-income, single mothers of Medicaid-covered children hospitalized for asthma

• Effectiveness across clinical and quality-of-life outcomes

  Significant reductions in blood glucose control (Hemoglobin A1c – HbA1c) across multiple projects

• Especially effective among those most in need

  More effective among those initially low on medication adherence or self-management, and those with low health literacy

• Reductions in hospitalizations and other forms of costly, often unnecessary care

  Among the 20% with high depression/anxiety/stress and who account for large proportions of hospitalization, reduced depression/anxiety/stress and normalized hospitalization rates

• Cost savings and cost-effectiveness

  55% to 93% probability of being cost-effective with greater likelihood if focused on those with greater need such as those with depression or poorer initial clinical status

• Adoption by health systems as routine care

  A health care management organization expanded its peer support program from 11 original clinics to all practices in its system – over 26 in three states

For Families

Increased sense of collaboration: 

• Receiving skills training and support from parent support providers helps family members

• collaborate effecLvely with treatment professionals. 

• Increased sense of self efficacy: Family support services increase family members’ confidence in their abilities to care for their child. 

• Increased empowerment to take action: Receiving education about service systems, navigation skills, advocacy skills, and rights helps empower families to become active participants in their child’s services.

• Recogntion of the importance of self-care: Parent support providers help families increase their awareness of the need for self care.