The Role of Peer Patients in Chronic Disease Management
Authors: Amelie G. Ramirez, Barbara J. Turner
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2010)

Editorials19 October 2010The Role of Peer Patients in Chronic Disease ManagementAmelie G. Ramirez, DrPH and Barbara J. Turner, MD, MSED, Executive Deputy EditorAmelie G. Ramirez, DrPHFrom Institute for Health Promotion Research, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78230, and the Executive Deputy Editor. and Barbara J. Turner, MD, MSED, Executive Deputy EditorFrom Institute for Health Promotion Research, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78230, and the Executive Deputy Editor.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-153-8-201010190-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Peer support refers to programs that use laypeople, such as persons who themselves have a disease, to assist patients in managing their own health. The recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (1) endorses peer-support programs by including community health workers among the integral components of the nation's health care workforce. In addition, section 399V of the Act approves "grants to promote positive health behaviors and outcomes for populations in medically underserved communities through the use of community health workers." These grants build on decades of research on the effectiveness of community health workers, peer coaches, and patient navigators. ...References1. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Pub. L. No. 111-148, 24 Stat. 119. Google Scholar2. Wells KJ, Battaglia TA, Dudley DJ, Garcia R, Greene A, Calhoun E, et al; Patient Navigation Research Program. Patient navigation: state of the art or is it science? Cancer. 2008;113:1999-2010. [PMID: 18780320] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Heisler M, Vijan S, Makki F, Piette JD. Diabetes control with reciprocal peer support versus nurse care management. A randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2010;153:507-15. LinkGoogle Scholar4. Parikh P, Simon EP, Fei K, Looker H, Goytia C, Horowitz CR. Results of a pilot diabetes prevention intervention in East Harlem, New York City: Project HEED. Am J Public Health. 2010;100 Suppl 1 S232-9. [PMID: 20147680] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Cade JE, Kirk SF, Nelson P, Hollins L, Deakin T, Greenwood DC, et al. Can peer educators influence healthy eating in people with diabetes? Results of a randomized controlled trial. Diabet Med. 2009;26:1048-54. [PMID: 19900238] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Heisler M, Spencer M, Forman J, Robinson C, Shultz C, Palmisano G, et al. Participants' assessments of the effects of a community health worker intervention on their diabetes self-management and interactions with healthcare providers. Am J Prev Med. 2009;37:S270-9. [PMID: 19896029] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Lubetkin EI, Lu WH, Krebs P, Yeung H, Ostroff JS. Exploring primary care providers' interest in using patient navigators to assist in the delivery of tobacco cessation treatment to low income, ethnic/racial minority patients. J Community Health. 2010. [PMID: 20336355] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Steinberg ML, Fremont A, Khan DC, Huang D, Knapp H, Karaman D, et al. Lay patient navigator program implementation for equal access to cancer care and clinical trials: essential steps and initial challenges. Cancer. 2006;107:2669-77. [PMID: 17078056] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Dale J, Caramlau IO, Lindenmeyer A, Williams SM. Peer support telephone calls for improving health. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;:CD006903. [PMID: 18843736] MedlineGoogle Scholar10. Office of Community Health Workers. New state report finds community health workers help improve health care access and quality [press release]. 14 January 2010. Boston: Massachusetts Department of Public Health; 2010. Accessed at www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2pressrelease&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=Departments+and+Divisions&L3=Department+of+Public+Health&sid=Eeohhs2&b=pressrelease&f=100114_health_care&csid=Eeohhs2 on 15 September 2010. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Institute for Health Promotion Research, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78230, and the Executive Deputy Editor.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M10-2044.Corresponding Author: Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH, Institute of Health Promotion, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 8207 Callaghan Road, Suite 353, San Antonio, TX 78230; e-mail, [email protected]edu.Current Author Addresses: Dr. Ramirez: Institute of Health Promotion, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 8207 Callaghan Road, Suite 353, San Antonio, TX 78230.Dr. Turner: American College of Physicians, 190 N. Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoDiabetes Control With Reciprocal Peer Support Versus Nurse Care Management Michele Heisler , Sandeep Vijan , Fatima Makki , and John D. 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An Analysis of App FeaturesImpact of Navigators on First Visit to a Transplant Center, Waitlisting, and Kidney TransplantationGovernment Agencies and Community-Based OrganizationsBarriers and facilitators to use of non-pharmacological treatments in chronic painHemodialysis Clinic Social Networks, Sex Differences, and Renal TransplantationImpact of Navigators on Completion of Steps in the Kidney Transplant Process: A Randomized, Controlled TrialEffectiveness of a Culturally Tailored Diabetes Self-Management Program for Chinese Americans 19 October 2010Volume 153, Issue 8Page: 544-545KeywordsDietExerciseHealth careHealth care providersHealth promotionHemoglobinInsulinNursesPrevention, policy, and public health ePublished: 19 October 2010 Issue Published: 19 October 2010 CopyrightCopyright © 2010 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...