Peers for Progress Symposia at the Society of Behavioral Medicine
Patrick Tang, MPH
Every year, Peers for Progress looks to the annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine as an opportunity to learn from experts, share research findings from our network, and get inspired to take action. The conference caters to a wide range of interests, and yet attendees could spend the entire conference focusing on a narrow topic area. For example, I was particularly excited to see the number of presentations on technology-enhanced peer support and health coaching.
On our part, Peers for Progress investigators organized two symposia on peer support. The first symposium, Inside the Black Box: Deconstructing Social and Peer Support, took a deep dive into the mechanisms of effective interventions and offered practical recommendations to improve peer support programs. The second symposium, Peer Support: Channels of Dissemination, featured three model programs that have the potential to expand and sustain peer support for whole populations.
You can download our presentation slides below in case you weren’t able to attend our symposia or missed something during the presentations. Thanks to everyone that joined our discussions! We look forward to SBM next year in San Diego.
Inside the Black Box: Deconstructing Social and Peer Support
Chair:
Introductory Slides
Edwin B. Fisher, PhD
Gillings School of Global Public Health
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Presenters:
Peer Advisors Improved Physical Activity Despite Pain
Monika A. Safford, MD
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of Preventive Medicine
Birmingham, AL
Differentiating the Role of Social Support on Diabetes Outcomes Among a Cross-Site Sample of Adults
Sarah D. Kowitt, MPH
Gillings School of Global Public Health
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Community Based Peer Support in Breastfeeding Interventions: Examining Engagement Strategies
Nivedita Bhushan, MA
Gillings School of Global Public Health
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Discussant:
Michele Heisler, MD MPA
University of Michigan Medical School
Ann Arbor, MI
Peer Support: Channels of Dissemination
Chair:
Andrea Cherrington, MD MPH
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL
Presenters:
Type 2 Together: Rolling Out Group Peer Support Based Upon RAPSID- Randomised Controlled Trial of Peer Support in Type 2 Diabetes
David Simmons, FRACP FRCP MD
Western Sydney University
Campbelltown, Australia
Dissemination Model for Promotores de Salud in Primary Care Reaching Populations of Patients with Chronic Disease
Edwin B. Fisher, PhD
Gillings School of Global Public Health
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
High Tech/Soft Touch: Using eHealth to Disseminate Lay Health Coaching
Patrick Y. Tang, MPH
Peers for Progress
Gillings School of Global Public Health
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Discussant:
Steven Peskin, MD MBA FACP
Horizon-BCBSNJ
Belle Mead, NJ
I am currently looking for peer support contacts. I suffer from bipolar disorder symptoms the most which can get very scary quick. Racing thoughts about things I have no control over invade and stress, pain,and mania begin. I also have had enough chaos and pain during years of sobriety then relapse that I now am willing to go to any length to stay sober.I have a sponsor in alcoholics anonymous but none really understands or can relate to what I am going through. Really need to relate and understanding
Hi Bethany, peer support programs can often focus on specific issues so you may not be able to find all the support you need for multiple conditions. It is not out of the ordinary for individuals to participate in more than one support groups. If you are looking for support for bipolar disorder, we recommend taking a look at the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=peer_landing for local resources, and speaking with a mental health professional.