Facilitators of Peer Support Among Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.

BACKGROUND

Patient-to-patient peer support has been identified as a promising approach for the management of chronic kidney disease and has been associated with improved clinical and psychosocial outcomes. Multiple factors may influence the implementation and effectiveness of peer support programs across different healthcare settings.

OBJECTIVES

This qualitative meta-synthesis aimed to identify the key facilitators influencing peer support among patients with chronic kidney disease.

METHODS

A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis were conducted. The electronic databases Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. Thomas and Harden's three-stage thematic synthesis approach was used to synthesize the findings of the included qualitative studies. The methodological quality of the selected studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool.

RESULTS

A total of 15 studies were included in the meta-synthesis. The analysis identified three main themes related to facilitators of peer support: (a) Cultivating a supportive culture through the healthcare system, (b) Weaving deep connections and good rapport and (c) Engaged and motivated peer supporters and recipients.

CONCLUSIONS

This qualitative meta-synthesis demonstrates that successful implementation of peer support programs for people living with CKD depends on the interaction of organizational support, meaningful peer relationships and active participant engagement. These findings provide a conceptual framework that can inform the design, integration and strengthening of peer support programs within routine kidney care.