Peers for Progress Newsletter Archive - June 25 2014 Newsletter Copy

Peer Support Finds Heart in San Francisco

Peers for Progress Newsletter

June 24, 2014

From June 17-18, Peers for Progress and the National Council of La Raza hosted a meeting of Peers for Progress investigators and the National Peer Support Collaborative Learning Network in San Francisco, California.

Over two packed days, we reviewed the state of the evidence in peer support for diabetes management and looked ahead to the future. Reminded of our common principles and the importance of this work, we found in San Francisco the vision and the resolve to move forward.

Below, you can read our reflections and find resources developed for the meeting. Please look for the full meeting report in a future e-newsletter.

Follow us on Twitter (@Peers4Progress) to stay up to date with the latest research and trends in the field of peer support.

Spotlight

Global Meeting Honors Research of Peers for Progress Investigators and Sets Directions Forward

Following an exciting and productive meeting, we’d like to share our initial reflections and provide a glimpse of the thought-provoking discussions that we enjoyed. Read on to see the major themes that emerged during the meeting. [Read more]

Share Your Story, Photos, or Videos

We’re looking to you to share your experiences and observations with real stories and images of peer support in the field. Submissions can focus on your personal successes or challenges providing peer support to others, or observations on the benefit of receiving peer support. We want to celebrate peer support, inspire others to get involved, and demonstrate its unique, humanizing value. [Read more]

Program Resources

Project Descriptions of Peers for Progress Investigators

These practice-oriented profiles cover everything from recruitment and training to major challenges and key results. Use resources from these projects to develop, implement, and improve your own programs. Each month, we will feature 2-3 profiles. This month, we feature programs from:

Victoria, Australia: Brian Oldenburg

Hong Kong, China: Juliana Chan

PfP Investigators’ Publications and Presentations

Over the past 5 years, our collaborators have conducted an impressive body of research. Find all of their peer-reviewed studies in this compilation of publications and presentations from the Peers for Progress investigators. [Read more]

CHLPI Report on Diabetes in North Carolina

The Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation (CHLPI) of Harvard Law School released its PATHS report, “The Diabetes Epidemic in North Carolina: Policies for Moving Forward”. The report was created to empower diabetes advocates and local and state governments in their planning to promote policy change to address the impact of type 2 diabetes within NC communities. [Read more]

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Research Briefs

A Self-Management Intervention for African Americans with Comorbid Diabetes and Hypertension: A Pilot RCT

This pilot RCT tested a community-based, group intervention that focused on diet, physical activity, and peer support for reducing weight among urban-dwelling African Americans with comorbid type 2 diabetes and hypertension. At 6 months, the two groups (n=61) did not differ on weight, but a greater proportion of intervention (50.0%) than control (21.4%) reduced HbA1c by 0.5% or more. [Abstract]

Improving Hypertension Self-Management with Community Health Coaches

Health Coaches for Hypertension Control is a program that aims to improve hypertension self-management among rural residents older than 60 years through education and support offered by trained community volunteers called Health Coaches. At 16 weeks, all outcome measures had clinically significant decreases with statistically significant changes in SBP, weight, and glucose. [Abstract]

Does Health Coaching Change Patients' Trust in Their Primary Care Provider?

Among low-income English or Spanish speaking patients age 18-75 with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia, trust in their primary care provider increased among patients receiving health coaching. The difference remained significant after adjusting for number of visits to primary care providers. Adding health coaches to care teams can enhance relationships with patients. [Abstract]

Heart Failure Patients' Experiences of a Self-Management Peer Support Program: A Qualitative Study

Among patients recently hospitalized for heart failure, over half had no or minimal engagement with a reciprocal peer support program. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients of different levels and types of engagement in a heart failure self-management support program. Key themes that emerged included the importance of heart failure specific-social support, sharing information, comparing self to others, depression, and functional status. [Abstract]

Funding Opportunities

Targeted Basic Behavioral and Social Science and Intervention Development for HIV Prevention and Care (R01)

Deadline: September 7, 2014
Funds: Not limited / Max 5 years

This FOA encourages research designed to (a) conduct basic behavioral and social science research that is needed to advance the development of HIV prevention and care interventions, (b) translate and operationalize the findings from these basic studies to develop interventions and assess their feasibility and (c) conduct tests of the efficacy of HIV prevention and care interventions. [Read more]

Community Partnerships to Advance Research (R01)

Deadline: October 5, 2014
Funds: Not limited / Max 5 years

The purpose of the funding opportunity is to stimulate researchers to partner with communities using Community Engaged Research (CEnR) methodologies that will enhance relationships leading to better interventions and positive health outcomes. [Read more]

Behavioral Interventions to Address Multiple Chronic Health Conditions in Primary Care (R01)

Deadline: October 5, 2014
Funds: Not limited / Max 5 years

This FOA will support research in primary care that uses a multi-disease care management approach to behavioral interventions with high potential impact to improve patient-level health outcomes for individuals with three or more chronic health conditions. The proposed approach must modify behaviors using a common approach rather than administering a distinct intervention for each targeted behavior and/or condition. [Read more]

Prevention and Treatment of Obesity, Diabetes, and Chronic Kidney Disease in Military Populations (R01)

Deadline: October 15, 2014
Funds: Not limited / Max 5 years

The goal of this FOA is to encourage applications on prevention and treatment of obesity, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease in military personnel (active duty and retired) and their families. [Read more]

Family-Centered Self-Management of Chronic Conditions (R21)

Deadline: October 16, 2014
Funds: $275,000 total / 2 years

The purpose of this FOA is to encourage research that seeks to build the science of family-centered self-management (FCSM) in chronic conditions. FCSM recognizes and addresses family needs and preferences, and integrates family members as partners in care while promoting individual self-management. [Read more]