Assessing the Effect of a Technology-Based Peer-Mentoring Intervention on Renal Teams’ Perceived Knowledge and Comfort Level Working With Young Adults on Dialysis

Authors

  • Erica E. Perry, MSW
  • Kai Zheng, PhD
  • Andrew Grogan-Kaylor, PhD
  • Mark W. Newman, PhD
  • Tiffany C. E. Veinot, PhD

Abstract

The study presented in this article was part of a larger project to develop and evaluate a technology-based peer-mentoring program for empowering young adults (YAs) on dialysis and their renal teams. In this article, we focus on how the program has influenced the renal team members’ perceived knowledge of, and comfort levels with, working with YAs, and their perceptions of YA behavior. We conducted surveys with 110 renal team staff members (not including the renal social workers who served as study coordinators) from 16 dialysis units in a midwestern state. The overall intervention included: (1) staff viewing a DVD of other staff discussing how to work with YAs; (2) YAs viewing a DVD of peer mentors discussing life with CKD; and (3) an opportunity for YAs to virtually “meet” with peers via a website we developed called ktalk.org. We found that the staff intervention led to improved staff perceptions of knowledge, YAs’ behavioral adherence and comfort talking with the team. However, our results also revealed that staff experienced decreased comfort levels working with the young patients on dialysis.

Published

2010-07-01

How to Cite

Perry, MSW, E. E., Zheng, PhD, K., Grogan-Kaylor, PhD, A., Newman, PhD, M. W., & Veinot, PhD, T. C. E. (2010). Assessing the Effect of a Technology-Based Peer-Mentoring Intervention on Renal Teams’ Perceived Knowledge and Comfort Level Working With Young Adults on Dialysis. The Journal of Nephrology Social Work, 33, 8–12. Retrieved from https://jnsw.kidney.org/index.php/jnsw/article/view/119

Issue

Vol. 33 (2010)

Section

Articles