The experience of family caregivers of ventilator-assisted individuals who participated in a pilot web-based peer support program: A qualitative study

INTRODUCTION: Family caregivers play an important role supporting the day-to-day needs of ventilator-assisted individuals (VAIs) living at home. Peer-to-peer communication can help support these caregivers and help them sustain caregiving in the community. Online peer-support has been suggested as a way to help meet caregivers’ support needs. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive approach was used to elicit the perspectives of support received from caregivers who participated in a pilot web-based peer support program from October to December 2018. Data were collected through the transcripts of weekly online peer-to-peer group chats. Data were analyzed using an integration of thematic and framework analysis. RESULTS: In total, eight caregivers and five peer mentors participated in the pilot. All five mentors and four of the caregivers participated in the weekly chats. We identified three themes, a) The experience of caregivers is characterized by unique challenges related to the complexity of VAI care including technology; b) Mentors and caregiver participants reciprocally share support; c) Despite hardships, there are things that make caregiving easier and joyful. DISCUSSION: Our results add to the growing body of evidence pointing to the importance of online communities for supporting vulnerable caregivers. The reciprocal element of peer support, where trained mentors and untrained participants both benefit from support, can help sustain peer-support interventions. Despite the challenges of providing care to a VAI, there are facilitators that may help ease the caregiving experience and caregivers can benefit from ongoing support that is tailored to their needs along the caregiving trajectory.