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. 2024 Sep 4:23971983241272742.
doi: 10.1177/23971983241272742. Online ahead of print.

Association of support group leader experience with Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Support group Leader EDucation Program outcomes: Secondary analysis of a two-arm parallel partially nested randomized controlled trial

Brett D Thombs  1   2   3   4   5   6 , Brooke Levis  1 , Marie-Eve Carrier  1 , Laura Dyas  7 , Violet Konrad  8 , Maureen Sauvé  9 , Andrea Benedetti  3   4   10 ; SPIN-SSLED Support Group Advisory Team
Affiliations

Association of support group leader experience with Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Support group Leader EDucation Program outcomes: Secondary analysis of a two-arm parallel partially nested randomized controlled trial

Brett D Thombs et al. J Scleroderma Relat Disord. .

Abstract

Introduction/objective: The Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Support group Leader EDucation Program was found in a randomized controlled trial to substantially improve leader self-efficacy. Whether the program is effective for leaders with different levels of experience, including candidate leaders with no prior experience and leaders with ⩽3 years experience or ⩾4 years experience, is not known. The objective of the present post hoc secondary analysis was to evaluate outcomes by leader experience, age, and education.

Methods: The trial was a pragmatic, two-arm partially nested randomized controlled trial with 1:1 allocation to intervention or waitlist control. Eligible participants were existing or candidate support group leaders. The 13-session leader training was delivered in groups of five to six participants weekly via videoconference in 60- to 90-min sessions. The primary outcome was leader self-efficacy, measured by the Support Group Leader Self-efficacy Scale (SGLSS) immediately post-intervention. Secondary outcomes were Support Group Leader Self-efficacy Scale scores 3 months post-intervention and emotional distress, leader burnout, and volunteer satisfaction post-intervention and 3 months post-intervention. Leaders were classified as having no experience, ⩽3 years experience, or ⩾4 years experience.

Results: A total of 148 participants were randomized to intervention (N = 74) or waitlist (N = 74). Compared to leaders with ⩾4 years of experience, Support Group Leader Self-efficacy Scale scores were non-statistically significantly higher post-intervention for leaders with 0-3 years experience and lower for leaders with no experience. The 3 months post-intervention Support Group Leader Self-efficacy Scale scores were significantly lower for leaders without experience and similar for leaders with 0-3 years to those with ⩾4 years experience. There were no differences by experience on other outcomes or by age and education on any outcomes.

Conclusion: Support group leader education improved leader self-efficacy but was most effective for leaders with experience prior to initiating the program.

Trial registration: NCT03965780; registered on May 29, 2019.

Keywords: Patient education; peer support; randomized controlled trial; support groups; systemic sclerosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: All authors have completed the ICJME uniform disclosure form and declare no support from any organization for the submitted work and no financial relationships with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous 3 years. All authors declare no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
SPIN-SSLED trial flow diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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