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. 2025 Jun 30:11:28.
doi: 10.21037/mhealth-24-64. eCollection 2025.

PeerTECH: a randomized controlled trial of a peer-led mobile health intervention to improve medical and psychiatric self-management for persons with serious mental illness

Karen L Fortuna  1 , Sunny Cui  2 , Stephanie Lebby  2 , Haiyi Xie  3 , Martha L Bruce  2 , Stephen J Bartels  4
Affiliations

PeerTECH: a randomized controlled trial of a peer-led mobile health intervention to improve medical and psychiatric self-management for persons with serious mental illness

Karen L Fortuna et al. Mhealth. .

Abstract

Background: Certified peer support specialists (CPSs) can empower individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) to engage with mobile health interventions designed to improve medical and psychiatric self-management. This study pilot-tested PeerTECH, a digital, 12-session intervention adapted from Integrated Illness Management and Recovery and delivered by CPSs, to assess its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness in enhancing self-management among individuals with SMI compared to peer support as usual (PSAU).

Methods: A two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted with individuals diagnosed with SMI and at least one medical comorbidity. Participants were randomly assigned to either PeerTECH, a 12-week structured mobile health intervention delivered by CPSs, or PSAU (peer support without mobile technology). Outcome measures related to medical and psychiatric self-management were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. Data was analysed using linear mixed-effects regression models to compare outcomes between groups. Feasibility and acceptability were evaluated by participant retention rates, intervention adherence, and participant-reported satisfaction.

Results: The study demonstrated that the randomized control trial design was feasible and acceptable, with 72.73% of approached patients consenting to participate. PeerTECH delivery was engaging, with 90% of participants initiating the intervention, approximately 80% completing it, and participants engaging in text exchanges on 70% of possible days, averaging 10 text exchanges. The intervention was found to be acceptable, with 100% of participants reporting satisfaction, and safe, with no adverse events. Statistically significant improvements were observed in PeerTECH compared to PSAU in physical health outcomes, as measured by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global-10 Physical Health scores (P=0.023). Clinically meaningful improvements in the Integrated Management and Recovery Scale and PROMIS-derived utility scores (EuroQol 5-Dimension Scale, Health Utilities Index) were also observed.

Conclusions: The Peer-Led Mobile Health Intervention demonstrated feasibility and effectiveness in enhancing self-management among individuals with SMI and chronic comorbidities.

Trial registration: This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04481737).

Keywords: Mobile health; digital health intervention; peer support; psychiatric self-management; serious mental illness (SMI).

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://mhealth.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/mhealth-24-64/coif). K.L.F. offers consulting through Social Wellness and partners with Emissary Health, Inc. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Consort diagram. PSAU, peer support as usual.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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