Institute for Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
J Ment Health. 2020 Jun;29(3):289-295. doi: 10.1080/09638237.2019.1581349. Epub 2019 Mar 25.
The implementation of peer support work in psychiatric hospitals is a relatively recent development. Consequently, the effects of peer support work on mental health professionals, patients and peer support workers (PSWs) are mostly unknown. To explore the beneficial effects of peer support work in detail and to reflect critically on potential sources of misunderstanding. (1) Nine open-ended, semi-structured interviews with PSWs and (2) five focus groups with mental health professionals plus one focus group with PSWs. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Our data show various beneficial effects on patients, such as the themes "less professional distance," "more time for one-on-one attendance" and "a role model for recovery." Themes that emerged for mental health professionals were, amongst others, "adding a new perspective," "improved continuity in treatment offers" and "preserving a respectful tone in meetings." It is necessary to minimize the risk of role confusion to achieve the beneficial potential of peer support work. A thorough education on what peer support work can and cannot deliver is essential and could help to foster its successful implementation.
在精神病院实施同伴支持工作是相对较新的发展。因此，同伴支持工作对心理健康专业人员、患者和同伴支持工作者（PSW）的影响大多未知。为了详细探讨同伴支持工作的有益效果，并批判性地反思潜在的误解来源。（1）对 PSW 进行了 9 次开放式、半结构化访谈；（2）对心理健康专业人员进行了 5 次焦点小组讨论，外加 1 次 PSW 焦点小组讨论。使用定性内容分析对数据进行分析。我们的数据显示了对患者的各种有益影响，例如“减少专业距离”、“有更多时间一对一就诊”和“康复榜样”等主题。对心理健康专业人员而言，出现的主题包括“增加新视角”、“改善治疗提供的连续性”和“在会议中保持尊重的语气”。必须将角色混淆的风险降至最低，以实现同伴支持工作的潜在益处。对同伴支持工作可以提供和不能提供的内容进行全面教育是至关重要的，这有助于促进其成功实施。
