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Qualitative Analysis of Peer Coaches’ Experiences with Counseling African Americans About Reducing Heart Disease Risk

Journal of General Internal Medicine volume 27, pages 167–172 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Despite mounting evidence that peer coaches can make significant contributions to patient health, little is known about factors that must be addressed to engage and retain them in their role.

OBJECTIVE

To identify motivators and barriers to serving as a peer coach.

DESIGN

Open ended semi-structured interviews.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

In a randomized trial of peer support, patients with well controlled hypertension and good interpersonal skills were recruited and trained to serve as peer coaches for African-American patients from the same practices who had poorly controlled hypertension. Peer coaches spoke by telephone at least three times with their same sex patient–clients on alternate months during the 6-month intervention and counseled about medication adherence as well as other healthy lifestyles.

KEY RESULTS

Of 15 trained peer coaches, ten were contacted and agreed to participate in the qualitative interview. Peer coaches had a mean age of 66 years, 50% were women, and 80% were African-American. Themes regarding favorable aspects of the peer coach experience included: meaning and satisfaction derived from contributing to community health and the personal emotional and physical benefits derived from serving as a peer coach. Negative aspects centered on: challenges in establishing the initial telephone contact and wanting more information about their patient–clients’ personal health conditions and status. Peer coaches endorsed gender matching but were less clear about race-matching.

CONCLUSIONS

Programs that utilize peer support to enhance positive health behaviors should recognize that a spirit of volunteerism motivates many successful peer coaches. Program planners should acknowledge the special characteristics required of successful peer coaches when selecting, motivating and training individuals for this role.

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Funding Source

Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Informing Disparities Program

Prior Presentations

Material included in this paper was presented in a poster session at the SGIM meeting in Minneapolis, MN, April 2010.

The authors wish to acknowledge the contribution of the Mixed Methods Research Lab (MMRL) at the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, in the management and analysis of the data.

Conflict of Interest

None disclosed.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Frances K. Barg PhD MEd

  2. Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Mark G. Weiner MD

  3. School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Frances K. Barg PhD MEd

  4. University of Texas Health Science Center and University Health System, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Barbara J. Turner MD, MSEd

  5. University of Pennsylvania, 141-2 Anatomy and Chemistry Building, 3620 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Frances K. Barg PhD MEd

  6. College of Medicine, SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Shelly Joseph BA

  7. School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Kavita Pandit BA

Authors
  1. Frances K. Barg PhD MEd
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  2. Mark G. Weiner MD
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  3. Shelly Joseph BA
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  4. Kavita Pandit BA
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  5. Barbara J. Turner MD, MSEd
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frances K. Barg PhD MEd.

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Barg, F.K., Weiner, M.G., Joseph, S. et al. Qualitative Analysis of Peer Coaches’ Experiences with Counseling African Americans About Reducing Heart Disease Risk. J GEN INTERN MED 27, 167–172 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-011-1883-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-011-1883-6

KEY WORDS

  • peer coach
  • peer counseling
  • navigator
  • risk counseling