Effects of Peer Mentoring for Caregivers of Patients With Acquired Brain Injury: A Preliminary Investigation of Efficacy.
Michael Jones, Claire Holley, Mariellen Jacobs and 2 others
PMID 34589699WHAT IT FOUND
Peer mentoring did not increase caregiver participation in support services, but it significantly reduced caregiver stress at discharge and 30 days.
The study was small and interrupted by the pandemic, so these results suggest a potential benefit that needs confirmation.
Key findings
01Peer mentoring significantly reduced caregiver stress compared to usual care at both discharge and 30 days post-discharge.
02There was no significant difference between groups in participation in family support services.
03Peer mentoring did not significantly reduce caregiver depressive symptoms at discharge or 30 days.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was severely underpowered due to COVID-19 restrictions, which halted enrollment and increased dropout rates. Only 36 of the targeted 60 participants completed the 30-day follow-up. 78% of the usual care group received at least one peer mentoring visit, which may have diluted the difference between groups. The short follow-up period (30 days) may not capture longer-term effects on stress or depression. The study did not control for the potential impact of the shift from in-person to virtual services during the pandemic.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that peer mentoring is proven to reduce caregiver stress. The study was small, underpowered, and interrupted by the pandemic. The significant reduction in stress scores may not generalize to typical clinical settings, especially given the high dropout rate and the fact that most usual care participants also received some mentoring.