Evaluating outcomes of a peer support network for families following acquired brain injury Bellon
1 M,
1Disability
Sando
1 S,
Crocker
1 R,
Farnden,
2 J
& Community Inclusion, Flinders University, SA, Australia, 2Families4Families Inc, SA, Australia
Contact:
[email protected]
Background Families living with acquired brain injury (ABI) can experience strain, emotional distress, caregiver burden and social isolation.1 Few resources exist to support families cope with the long-term challenges associated with this role.2,3 To fill this gap in South Australia, Families4Families Inc began as an 18month pilot peer support network for families living with ABI. Since the program’s launch in January 2013, members have designed, created and established their own model of peer support. In 2015, it has grown to 16 Local Groups providing monthly support group meetings, social events and activities across metro and regional South Australia. There are currently over 300 member families.
Thematic analysis of post-program interview transcripts revealed three major benefits from participation in the program: ‘information’; ‘giving back’; and ‘connection.’ (Fig 1).
Figure 1 : Benefits of the program
This study presents the qualitative experiences and outcomes of participation in the 18 month pilot program.
www.families4families.org.au
Method
Following the program’s launch, all members on the new database were invited to participate in an initial phone interview. Fifty-five members (20 pwABI; 35 caregivers) participated in the research (43% response rate). Final phone interviews were conducted at the end of the pilot in June 2014 with 34 participants (11 pwABI; 23 caregivers). Qualitative comments were coded collaboratively by two researchers using NVivo10 and thematic analysis conducted. Responses to rating questions were imported and analysed using SPSS 20. Ethics clearance was obtained from Flinders University.
“I’ve been in the system for 17 years and it’s only since F4F have
Results
been established that I have learnt more about ABI.” (#15, Active attender)
71% of research participants (n=39) attended Families4Families Inc in some capacity over the 18month period (Table 1). Attendance was defined as either: Active Occasional Non-attendance
• Attended all/most monthly support groups, together with events and/or volunteer roles
“I go with my husband. We attend for both of us. It's very helpful just because you can talk about the different things associated with brain injury to other people who understand.” (#9, Active attender)
“We have got a better understanding of the disability support system and have gained knowledge about resources and agencies that we can contact.” (55, Occasional attender)
“It's reassuring to have contact with others from the facebook page who acknowledge and like the postings my daughter has put up about me. We have developed friendships through this.” (#37, Active attender)
• Attended
