The iPeer2Peer mentorship program for adolescent thoracic transplant recipients: An implementation-effectiveness evaluation.

Background: An increase in self-management skills for adolescent thoracic transplant recipients may improve health outcomes and facilitate a successful transition to adulthood. The iPeer2Peer program is an online peer mentorship program that has been successfully implemented as a self-management intervention in multiple chronic disease populations. This study aimed to determine the implementation and effectiveness outcomes of the iPeer2Peer program for adolescent thoracic transplant recipients.

Methods: A type III, hybrid implementation-effectiveness pilot study that comprised a quasi-experimental single-arm pre-post design was used to evaluate the iPeer2Peer program. Participant mentees, ages 12-17, were recruited from 2 large Canadian transplant centers. Peer mentors, ages 18-25, were thoracic transplant recipients who had successfully transitioned to adult care and self-manage their condition. A mixed methods approach for data collection was used, including interviews, focus groups, and standardized questionnaires.

Results: Twenty mentees (median 15.0 years, IQR 3.3 years; 65% female) completed the iPeer2Peer program with 9 young adult mentors (median 21.0 years, IQR 3.0 years; 78% female). Implementation outcomes indicated that the iPeer2Peer program was perceived as feasible, adoptable, acceptable, and appropriate for adolescent thoracic transplant recipients. Significant findings were noted in mentees for increased self-management and a decrease in overall depression and anxiety symptoms.

Conclusions: The successful implementation of the pilot iPeer2Peer program offers support to evaluate the scalability, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of the program for adolescents with chronic illness, specifically thoracic transplant recipients. Changes to the iPeer2Peer program that facilitate a flexible delivery may help implementation and acceptance.