Minnjuan Flournoy-Floyd1, Kasim Ortiz2, Leonard Egede3, Jim C Oates4, Trevor D Faith5, Edith M Williams6. 1. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, USA. 2. University of New Mexico, Department of Sociology, MSC05 3080 1915 Roma NE Ste. 1103, Albuquerque NM 87131-0001, USA. 3. Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Clinical Cancer Center Building, 5th Floor, Suite C5400, 9200 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. 4. Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas St, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Rheumatology Section, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center 109 Bee Street, Charleston, SC 29401, USA. 5. Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Cannon Street, Suite CS303, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. 6. Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Cannon Street, Suite CS303, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. Electronic address: wiled@musc.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder with significant disparate impact on African American women. The current study sought to highlight how the Peer Approaches to Lupus Self-management (PALS) intervention worked bi-directionally wherein both women with SLE leading the disease self-management program (mentors), and those participants who served as mentees, were empowered toward greater disease self-efficacy. METHODS: Data was captured for this study in two formats from the seven mentors participating in the pilot study: 1) mentor logs and 2) mentor interviews with the principle investigator. This information was then analyzed for themes relating to their experience within the study. RESULTS: We found that empowerment was facilitated by mentors taking their mentorship responsibilities seriously and seeking several avenues for collaboratively developing success with their mentees. Mentors reported that although challenges arose, their desire for success resulted in multiple approaches to be flexible and responsive to the needs of their mentees. Additionally, reciprocity was found to be a vital element of the program. CONCLUSIONS: Key thematic areas supported our ability to demonstrate the usefulness of a peer mentoring program for SLE disease self-management on evoking empowerment through reciprocal relationships among mentors and mentees within our study population. Furthermore the feedback from PALS participants yielded very rich and contextual information that can be used as a thematic guide for developing and refining evidence-based interventions that seek to incorporate empowerment into disease self-management efforts for women suffering from SLE.
BACKGROUND:Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder with significant disparate impact on African American women. The current study sought to highlight how the Peer Approaches to Lupus Self-management (PALS) intervention worked bi-directionally wherein both women with SLE leading the disease self-management program (mentors), and those participants who served as mentees, were empowered toward greater disease self-efficacy. METHODS: Data was captured for this study in two formats from the seven mentors participating in the pilot study: 1) mentor logs and 2) mentor interviews with the principle investigator. This information was then analyzed for themes relating to their experience within the study. RESULTS: We found that empowerment was facilitated by mentors taking their mentorship responsibilities seriously and seeking several avenues for collaboratively developing success with their mentees. Mentors reported that although challenges arose, their desire for success resulted in multiple approaches to be flexible and responsive to the needs of their mentees. Additionally, reciprocity was found to be a vital element of the program. CONCLUSIONS: Key thematic areas supported our ability to demonstrate the usefulness of a peer mentoring program for SLE disease self-management on evoking empowerment through reciprocal relationships among mentors and mentees within our study population. Furthermore the feedback from PALS participants yielded very rich and contextual information that can be used as a thematic guide for developing and refining evidence-based interventions that seek to incorporate empowerment into disease self-management efforts for women suffering from SLE.
Authors: Edith M Williams; J Madison Hyer; Ramakrishnan Viswanathan; Trevor D Faith; Delia Voronca; Mulugeta Gebregziabher; Jim C Oates; Leonard Egede Journal: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) Date: 2018-04-18 Impact factor: 4.794
Authors: C R Phillip; K Mancera-Cuevas; C Leatherwood; J S Chmiel; D L Erickson; E Freeman; G Granville; M Dollear; K Walker; R McNeil; C Correia; P Canessa; R Ramsey-Goldman; C H Feldman Journal: Lupus Date: 2019-10-08 Impact factor: 2.911
Authors: Edith M Williams; Leonard Egede; Jim C Oates; Clara L Dismuke; Viswanathan Ramakrishnan; Trevor D Faith; Hetlena Johnson; Jillian Rose Journal: Trials Date: 2019-08-23 Impact factor: 2.279