What peer support initiatives are available to Australians with diabetes? A national audit.  — ASN Events
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What peer support initiatives are available to Australians with diabetes? A national audit.  (#377)

Jessica L Browne 1 2 , Shaira Baptista 1 2 , Jennifer Halliday 1 2 , Jane Speight 1 2
  1. The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, Diabetes Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  2. School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia

Peer support can have a positive impact on both psychosocial and biomedical outcomes for people with diabetes. The 2011 Diabetes MILES Study indicated that 32% of adults who are not currently participating in peer support would like to. This provides a strong rationale for collating information about where/how to access diabetes peer support. As part of the National Diabetes Service Scheme (NDSS) National Development Program for Mental Health and Diabetes, we undertook an audit of existing diabetes peer support initiatives to meet this need.

Internet searches were conducted to identify programs in each state/territory. Program characteristics (e.g. aims, participants, format, funding) were extracted from websites. Where possible, a contact person (e.g. program organiser) was identified and invited to participate in a structured telephone interview (N=37). The audit was conducted August – November 2014, and identified 261 diabetes peer support programs nationwide (Table 1). 

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Three quarters (202/261) of initiatives are community support groups which meet monthly, face-to-face, in the eastern states. Diabetes Australia state/territory member organisations administer some groups; many are intentionally independent. Program organisers cite short-term funding as a barrier to consistent service provision. We identified 24 camps for young people; 31 online diabetes peer support initiatives. All bar one of the most active online forums were based overseas, but were used by Australians. Participants of online initiatives tend to be working-age adults. Peer leader training and program evaluation are rare across group types.

A range of peer support offerings are available to Australians but few are available outside the eastern states. Online diabetes peer support has the potential to fill this gap but more Australian-based services may be needed. Identifying sustainable funding sources, ensuring peer leaders are trained and supported, routine evaluation, and improving accessibility of information about how/where to find peer support are all important considerations for the future.