Virtič Tina, Mihevc Matic, Zavrnik Črt, Mori Lukančič Majda, Poplas Susič Antonija, Klemenc-Ketiš Zalika
Community Health Centre Ljubljana, Primary Healthcare Research and Development Institute, Metelkova 9, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
University of Maribor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Taborska 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia.
Zdr Varst. 2023 Mar 15;62(2):93-100. doi: 10.2478/sjph-2023-0013. eCollection 2023 Jun.
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and arterial hypertension (AH) are among the greatest challenges facing health systems worldwide and require comprehensive patient-centred care. The key to successful management in chronic patients is self-management support, which was found to be only weakly implemented in Slovenia. The aim of the study is to develop an evidence-based model of peer support for people with T2D and AH at the primary healthcare level in Slovenia, which could represent a potential solution for upgrading integrated care for these patients.
A prospective interventional, mixed-methods pilot study will begin by recruiting approximately 40 eligible people with T2D and AH through purposive sampling. The participants will receive structured training, led by a specialist nurse, to become trained peer supporters. Each will voluntarily share their knowledge and experience at monthly group meetings with up to 10 people with T2D and AH over a three-month period in the local community. Data will be collected through interviews and focus groups and questionnaires about socio-demographic and clinical data, knowledge about T2D and AH, participants' quality of life, level of empowerment and acceptability of the intervention.
The study will provide an evidence-based model for integrating peer support into the local community. It is expected that the intervention will prove feasible and acceptable with educational, psychosocial and behavioural benefits.
Peer support through empowerment of people with T2D and AH, family members and other informal caregivers in the local community could scale-up the integrated care continuum and contribute to sustainability of the healthcare system.
2型糖尿病（T2D）和动脉高血压（AH）是全球卫生系统面临的最大挑战之一，需要以患者为中心的全面护理。慢性病患者成功管理的关键是自我管理支持，但在斯洛文尼亚，这一点实施得很薄弱。本研究的目的是在斯洛文尼亚的初级医疗保健层面，为患有T2D和AH的人群开发一种基于证据的同伴支持模式，这可能是提升这些患者综合护理水平的一个潜在解决方案。
一项前瞻性干预性混合方法试点研究将首先通过目的抽样招募约40名符合条件的T2D和AH患者。参与者将接受由专科护士主导的结构化培训，成为经过培训的同伴支持者。在为期三个月的时间里，每人将在当地社区每月与最多10名T2D和AH患者举行的小组会议上自愿分享他们的知识和经验。将通过访谈、焦点小组以及关于社会人口统计学和临床数据、T2D和AH知识、参与者生活质量、赋权水平和干预可接受性的问卷来收集数据。
该研究将提供一个将同伴支持融入当地社区的基于证据的模式。预计该干预措施将被证明是可行且可接受的，并具有教育、心理社会和行为方面的益处。
通过赋权当地社区的T2D和AH患者、家庭成员及其他非正式护理人员来提供同伴支持，可以扩大综合护理的连续性，并有助于医疗保健系统的可持续性。
