Professional interface with mutual-aid self-help groups: a review.

The ideal interface between self-help group and professional being of both theoretical and practical interest, this paper reviews the conceptual underpinnings of the interface issue and empirical studies in which the professional or self-help group member perspective on this issue was elicited or comparative analyses were conducted. Empirical studies measuring self-help group members' perceptions and studies of professionals' views indicate that professional interaction with self-help groups is desirable but that professional lack of information concerning self-help groups and lack of preparation for appropriate roles are perceived as barriers to such interaction. These studies clearly show that the indirect, non-authoritarian role of the professional as consultant receives the most support. Consultation and collaboration are recurrent themes in the empirical investigations of the professional interface with self-help groups. Balance and exchange theories could provide useful theoretical foundations for this collaborative practice. Clearly, educational preparation is needed to enable health professionals to embark on the essential transition from provider to partner with self-help groups.