Effect of peer support interventions in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a peer support intervention on the quality of life (QOL), self-management, self-efficacy, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and depression in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A systematic review was conducted by searching 10 databases, namely PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, CINHAL, Web of Science, Sinomed, CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP for articles published from January 1974 to April 2023.

Results: A total of 12 studies were included. A narrative synthesis of the results showed that peer support significantly improved QOL, self-management, self-efficacy, and HbA1c control in patients with T2DM, but had no significant effect on depression.

Conclusion: Peer support is an effective intervention for individuals with T2DM. Future research should focus on more rigorously designed and larger-sample studies.

Practice implications: Peer support proves to be effective for managing patients with T2DM. Current peer support interventions can provide valuable ideas that can guide the direction of future research.

Keywords: Depression; HbA1c; Peer support; Quality of life; Randomized control trial; Self-efficacy; Self-management; Systematic review; Type 2 diabetes.