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Reciprocal Peer Support for Post-partum Patients with Diabetes: A Needs Assessment for the Diabetes Buddy Program

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Abstract

While peer support has been investigated in multiple clinical contexts, its application to the postpartum setting is unknown. The aim was to assess acceptability of a postpartum peer support program for women with diabetes. Observational survey-based needs assessment of forty low-income women with diabetes, receiving care at a major medical institution. Mean age and gravidity were 30.7 years and 3.15 ± 1.67 respectively. 45 % expressed interest in a “buddy.” There was no significant difference between groups desiring and not desiring this program. A majority of respondents desired telephone, text messaging, and in-person contacts (79.2, 72.1, 83.8 %), with 72.5 % of patients desiring diabetes-related activities during clinic waiting time. Many women desire a postpartum diabetes reciprocal peer program for support outside of clinician visits. Patients are receptive to educational services during their wait and outside of clinic time, a potentially valuable opportunity to share important health information.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the staff at the Prentice Ambulatory Care Clinic for their assistance and support with this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Brown University, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI, 02905, USA

    M. Alexandra Friedman

  2. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Charlotte M. Niznik, Janelle R. Bolden & Lynn M. Yee

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  1. M. Alexandra Friedman
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  2. Charlotte M. Niznik
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  3. Janelle R. Bolden
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Correspondence to M. Alexandra Friedman.

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Alexandra Friedman, M., Niznik, C.M., Bolden, J.R. et al. Reciprocal Peer Support for Post-partum Patients with Diabetes: A Needs Assessment for the Diabetes Buddy Program. J Community Health 41, 354–358 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-015-0103-4

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