The Experiences of a National Sample of Certified Peer Specialists in Mental Health

Methods

Summary

A quantitative survey was developed based on results from a qualitative study of the work experiences of certified peers.  The barriers to and facilitators of effective peer work found in that study included: the relevance of organizational context, relevance of colleague understanding of certified peers, the medical model as a barrier, and the importance of good supervision.  We created questions to tap into peer experiences with these barriers and facilitators.  We will pilot test the survey by sending a survey monkey link to organizations of certified peers in our state.  The results we receive will help us psychometrically test the instrument.  We will the instrument's reliability and also run a factor analysis to determine the underlying constructs we are measuring.  Once these results are obtained we can improve the tool and then send it a national sample of certified peers in order to quantitatively describe the common issues experienced that either enhance the work or obstruct it.  We will also be able to test hypotheses about what we believe promotes the work of certified peers.  We believe that organizational culture will be integral in nurturing effective peer support and that the quality of the supervision will also be relevant. 

Challenges

It is possible that potential respondents may be concerned about responding to a survey of their work experiences.   A relevant fear may include worry about identification by employers. The survey data will be collected anonymously through responses to a survey monkey link. The links will NOT be sent to employers but only to organizations of certified peers and shared via those organization's list serves.  Instructions sent with the link will assure potential participants that their participation is completely voluntary and that their responses cannot be tracked to them in any way.  The data will be reported as aggregate statistics.  This minimizes any risk to potential respondents.  In addition, the link and instructions will include the names of the research team, how to contact the team if needed, along with assurance of approval by the university Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects. 

Pre Analysis Plan

We will use SPSS 20 to analyze our date.  Psychometric testing will include internal consistency reliability testing [Note: We didn’t collect data as split scales from two different samples] and factor analysis.  Once this is done and the survey is perfected it will be sent to a national sample.  The data received from that final sample will be used to generate descriptive statistics and run various regression models to test the following [major] hypotheses:

1.  Scores on the organizational culture subscale of the tool will correlate with worker satisfaction (i.e., a recovery supportive culture will predict greater worker satisfaction) [Note: Another possibility: Mental health peer workers working in institutions with a stronger recovery supportive culture are more likely to experience positive, satisfied working experiences.]
2.  Scores on the supervision subscale of the tool will correlate with worker satisfaction (i.e., a supportive supervisor will predict greater worker satisfaction) [Mental health peer workers working  with a supportive supervisor are more likely to experience positive, satisfied working experiences.]
We do anticipate discovering patterns in the data that may lead to further hypothesis testing.