This study’s purpose was to explore the experiences of peer
supporters regarding their work in a home visit program for people with HIV
infection.
A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using focus
groups. Participants were 12 HIV-positive peer supporters conducting home
visits with people living with HIV/AIDS in South Korea. Thematic analysis was
used to analyze the data.
Six major themes emerged: feeling a sense of belonging;
concern about financial support; facing HIV-related stigma and fear of
disclosure; reaching out and acting as a bridge of hope; feeling burnout; and
need for quality education. The study findings indicate that although peer
supporters experience several positive aspects in the role, such as feelings of
belonging, they also experience issues that make it difficult to be successful
in the role, including the position’s instability, work-related stress, and
concerns about the quality of their continuing education.
The findings suggest that to maintain a stable and effective
peer supporter program, such positions require financial support, training in
how to prevent and manage stress associated with the role, and a well-developed
program of education and training...
Support from the home visit service was not enough, but it was great help for me, especially when I was cut off from my family and society and sick. I felt embraced by peer supporters. It helped me to cope with difficulties, to regain my health including emotional stability, and to transform myself as a peer supporter.
By:
1Department of Nursing, Sangmyung University, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
2School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
3Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
4Gyeonggi Branch, Korean Alliance to Defeat AIDS, Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
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