PEER CONNECT: peer coaching for long term conditions
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A single site feasibility two arm randomised controlled trial of peer coaching for adults with long term conditions: the PEER CONNECT study
IRAS ID
301946
Contact name
F Roberts
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN12623577
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 19 days
Research summary
NHS England estimates that 25-40% of patients have poor knowledge of their health condition(s) and poor skills and confidence to manage their health and wellbeing. People with less confidence and skills to manage their health condition (termed here low activation) are more likely to have unmet health needs and require emergency care. Receiving focused support from someone managing their health and wellbeing well (peer coaching) may help.
Torbay Medical Research Fund are funding a study to see how easy it is to set up and evaluate a volunteer peer coaching service for people from rheumatology, chronic pain and multiple sclerosis clinics at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. People reporting high levels of knowledge, skills and confidence (high activation) are providing the coaching. These volunteers will take part in a coaching training programme and be supervised through monthly group and individual sessions with coach coordinators. Volunteers will coach interested people over six months in the form of short conversations lasting 15 minutes to an hour. Coaching will be provided in a COVID-19 secure environment either online via MS teams, by telephone or face-to-face.
People eligible and wanting to be coached (referred to as peers) will be allocated (using a process similar to tossing a coin) to receive either peer coaching and usual care, or usual care only. At the beginning of the study, after six months and again three months later peers will be asked to complete a range of health and wellbeing questionnaires. Peers, coaches, staff and study decliners will be interviewed about their experiences. After the nine months, people receiving only usual care will be offered coaching. Findings from the study will enable the researchers to decide whether or not a larger trial of a volunteer peer coaching service is possible and how best to do it.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/LO/0715
Date of REC Opinion
15 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion