There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
Abstract
Peer support, and the integration of peer relationships in the provision of health
care, is a concept of substantial significance to health scientists and practitioners
today, as the focus shifts from the treatment of disease to health promotion. If the
nursing profession is to effectively incorporate peer relationships into support-enhancing
interventions as a means to improve quality care and health outcomes, it is essential
that this growing concept be clearly explicated. This paper explores the concept of
peer support through the application of Walker and Avant's (Strategies for Theory
Construction in Nursing, 3rd Edition, Prentice-Hall, Toronto, 1995) concept analysis
methodology. This analysis will provide the nursing profession with the conceptual
basis to effectively develop, implement, evaluate, and compare peer support interventions
while also serving as a guide for further conceptual and empirical research.