Making osteoarthritis peer mentoring accessible
RHOTY 4. Making osteoarthritis peer mentoring accessible
How patient voices shaped a new approach for osteoarthritis care.
A team from the University of Leeds have developed a remote support programme to help people with osteoarthritis facing disadvantage. The programme involves ‘peer mentoring’ – a trained volunteer giving guided support to someone else with the same condition.
“This study developed a peer mentorship programme that we hope will bridge gaps in arthritis care and reduce inequality. The programme aims to help people feel less isolated, more confident, and better able to manage their symptoms.”
The programme was created in stages based on an in-person programme. People with lived experience were central to the work. They shared views about things like digital access, confidence, and support. This helped make the programme easier to access and use.
The programme was then trialled in a small study. The findings suggest the programme could benefit people delivering and receiving it and so help create a fairer future.
“If people had access to a peer mentoring service earlier, it may delay the need to access secondary care.”
The project was led by researchers from the University of Leeds working with public partners, including Peer Mentors Robin Brittain and Camilla Freeman. It was co-funded by Arthritis UK and the Nuffield Foundation through the Oliver Bird Fund.
“Ultimately, our study aimed to show how people-focused, supportive approaches could help create a fairer future — where factors like your postcode and income don’t determine how well you live with arthritis.”
The other five research projects on our shortlist
Levelling up an osteoarthritis peer support intervention to help people facing socioeconomic disadvantage.
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