Establishing an online HIV peer helping programme: A review of process challenges and lessons learned

Abstract

Background: Online peer support can be a valuable approach to helping people living with HIV, especially in regions with large rural populations and relatively centralised HIV services. Design: This paper focuses on a community -university partnership aimed at developing an online peer support programme in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Setting: Team members included community representatives and people living with HIV from the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador (ACNL) as well as academic researchers. Objectives: Goals and objectives of the programme included reaching disconnected people living with HIV, reducing isolation among people living with HIV and connecting people living with HIV with support, education and professional resources. Method and Results: Through a process orientated and iterative decision-making approach, the team established the website, peer helping training curriculum, a recruitment plan as well as other core considerations. The current paper emphasises several process challenges and lessons learned from the development stage of the online support programme. Conclusion: It is hoped that this information will assist others in avoiding or overcoming similar process challenges arising during such work.