1 Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
2 Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
3 Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
4 Library, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
5 Schulich Library of Science and Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
6 Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
7 Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.
8 Department of San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, California, USA.
9 Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
10 Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
11 Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Objective: Peer facilitators play an important role in determining the success of many support groups for patients with medical illnesses. However, many facilitators do not receive training for their role and report a number of challenges in fulfilling their responsibilities. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of training and support programmes for peer facilitators of support groups for people with medical illnesses on (1) the competency and self-efficacy of group facilitators and (2) self-efficacy for disease management, health outcomes and satisfaction with support groups among group members.

Methods: Searches included the CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases from inception through 8 April 2016; reference list reviews; citation tracking of included articles; and trial registry reviews. Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in any language that evaluated the effects of training programmes for peer facilitators compared with no training or alternative training formats on (1) competency or self-efficacy of peer facilitators, and (2) self-efficacy for disease management, health outcomes and satisfaction with groups of group members. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess risk of bias.

Results: There were 9757 unique titles/abstracts and 2 full-text publications reviewed. 1 RCT met inclusion criteria. The study evaluated the confidence and self-efficacy of cancer support group facilitators randomised to 4 months access to a website and discussion forum (N=23; low resource) versus website, discussion forum and 2-day training workshop (N=29). There were no significant differences in facilitator confidence (Hedges' g=0.16, 95% CI -0.39 to 0.71) or self-efficacy (Hedges' g=0.31, 95% CI -0.24 to 0.86). Risk of bias was unclear or high for 4 of 6 domains.

Conclusions: Well-designed and well-conducted, adequately powered trials of peer support group facilitator training programmes for patients with medical illnesses are needed.

Trial registration number: CRD42014013601.