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Effectiveness of Peer Support Programs for Improving Well-being and Quality of Life in Parents/Carers of Children with Disability or Chronic Illness: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND
For children with disability or chronic illness, parents/carers are critical in enabling or limiting their child's development. The parent's/carer's ability to provide the necessary responsive and structured care is impacted by several factors, including their own personality, skills, resources, and well-being. Peer support programs often aim to build parent/carer and/or family capabilities. Although studies and reviews have found positive benefits arising from such programs, the impact of such programs, specifically on well-being and QoL is unknown.


OBJECTIVES
This systematic review synthesised quantitative evidence from the past decade of the effectiveness of peer support programs in improving the well-being and/or QoL for parents/carers of children with disability/chronic illnesses.


METHODS
Quantitative studies published between 2011 and 2020 that examined the impact of programs with a significant peer support component on parental/carer well-being, QoL, and/or distress were identified from four databases. Studies were evaluated for bias and analysed descriptively to explore program impacts.


RESULTS
Initial searches yielded 3,605 articles, with 13 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. The results suggested that peer support is effective for reducing distress and improving the well-being and QoL among parents of children with disabilities; however, the evidence is limited by a high risk of bias in the included studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Although existing evidence suggests that programs for parents/carers with a significant peer support component are beneficial for well-being and QoL, rigorous methodologies are needed in the future to gain a better understanding of the benefits of such programs.