Peer delivered services and peer support for people living with bipolar disorder: A scoping review protocol

Background: Numerous barriers exist to accessing treatment for bipolar disorder (BD). Peer support interventions may help increase the availability and acceptability of supports for people living with BD, and may be particularly well-suited for improving recovery and quality of life. There is evidence to support the potential of peer support interventions for improving wellbeing, clinical outcomes, and access to care. However, to date, no reviews of peer support interventions have specifically focused on BD. This scoping review aims to describe the experience and impacts of peer support for BD. Methods and analysis: A scoping review will be conducted following the frameworks of Levac et al. (2010), based on the foundational work of Arksey and O'Malley (2005). To investigate the quantitative and qualitative evidence for peer support interventions in BD, we will search MEDLINE (via Ovid), EMBASE (via Ovid), and PsycINFO (via EBSCOhost) using terms related to peer support and BD (developed through review of the previous literature and consultation with a medical librarian). All study designs reporting qualitative or quantitative data on the impacts and experiences of peer support for people with BD will be included. Extracted data will include study characteristics, participant demographics, key characteristics of the intervention, outcomes, and subjective experiences. Discussion: This review is expected to provide evidence to support healthcare decision makers by identifying promising peer support interventions for BD. We anticipate that scoping review findings will guide future research to help build a stronger evidence base for the development, evaluation, and implementation of peer support interventions for this population

Engaging diverse patients in a diverse world : the development and preliminary evaluation of educational modules to support diversity in patient engagement research

Background: Current practices for engaging patients in patient-oriented research (POR) result in a narrow pool of patient perspectives being refected in POR. This project aims to address gaps in methodological knowledge to foster diversity in POR, through the co-design and evaluation of a series of educational modules for health researchers in British Columbia, Canada. Methods: Modules were co-created by a team of academic researchers and patient partners from hardly-reached communities. The modules are presented using the Tapestry Tool, an interactive, online educational platform. Our evaluation framework focused on engagement, content quality, and predicted behavior change. The User Engagement Scale short form (UES-SF) measured participants’ level of engagement with the modules. Survey evaluation items assessed the content within the modules and participants’ perceptions of how the modules will impact their behavior. Evaluation items modeled on the theory of planned behavior, administered before and after viewing the modules, assessed the impact of the modules on participants’ perceptions of diversity in POR. Results: Seventy-four health researchers evaluated the modules. Researchers’ engagement and ratings of module content were high. Subjective behavioral control over fostering diversity in POR increased signifcantly after viewing the modules. Conclusions: Our results suggest the modules may be an engaging way to provide health researchers with tools and knowledge to increase diversity in health research. Future studies are needed to investigate best practices for engaging with communities not represented in this pilot project, such as children and youth, Indigenous Peoples, and Black communities. While educational interventions represent one route to increasing diversity in POR, individual efforts must occur in tandem with high-level changes that address systemic barriers to engagement.Arts, Faculty ofHealth and Social Development, Faculty of (Okanagan)Medicine, Faculty ofNon UBCPsychiatry, Department ofPsychology, Department ofSocial Work, School of (Okanagan)ReviewedFacultyResearcherPostdoctoralGraduat

Results of a culturally relevant, physical activity-based wellness program for urban Indigenous women in Alberta, Canada

Increasing physical activity and improving nutrition is challenging for Indigenous women. Their lives are complex and influenced by sociopolitical structures and racism that have yielded family breakdown, socioeconomic inequality, and high levels of poor health. Women Warriors (WW), an eight-week physical activity-based wellness program, was designed to support Indigenous women in their efforts to increase physical activity levels, improve nutrition, and develop support systems to produce good health. To evaluate the impact of the program, we completed a mixed method pre/post evaluation of four program sessions, from January to December 2016. The WW program resulted in increased weekly pedometer step counts, increased nutrition skill acquisition, and improved confidence in exercising as a group and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. It also produced demonstrable improvements in anthropometrics. Participants developed positive social support systems and learned about the health and social resources available to them in their community. They appreciated that the program motivated them by keeping them accountable and offered opportunity to share their experiences in the context of the sharing circle. The program identified barriers to health change, including lack of resources that support physical activity, healthy eating, and personal stress management. Participants recommended that future programs increase in duration and intensity and offer enhanced nutrition and health education, increased avenues for support system development, and opportunities to network outside of the program. The WW program was well received and shows promise as a practical, community-based method to provide support to Indigenous women interested in increasing positive health behaviours