Health Education by Peers with Spinal Cord Injury: a Scoping Review

People with spinal cord injury (SCI) have greater health challenges than the general population. Health implications can arise from direct spinal nerve damage, secondary conditions, and the increased likelihood of a sedentary lifestyle. Health education is an important aspect of SCI rehabilitation. Peer education is used in both general health education campaigns and those aimed at people with defined illnesses and disabilities. Peers have a unique understanding of the target population, and are a valued contributor to SCI rehabilitation. This scoping review explored the existing evidence about the various types and content of health education programs involving peers, aimed at adults with SCI. The eight studies identified are described using three themes; timing and focus; role of peer educators; and outcomes. Half of these studies included peer education as one component of a broader program, but despite differing approaches all reported positive participant outcomes. Peer education appears to be a promising approach to assist people with SCI to learn about and manage their health, and positively influence their self-efficacy. Further research that isolates the role of the peer educators in programs would be beneficial to determine the unique benefits of this form of health education.