Findings from qualitative studies suggest parents of children with disabilities benefit from peer support; whereas findings from quantitative studies are inconclusive.

Context Healthcare professionals routinely recommend peer support for parents of children with long-term and disabling conditions. Peer support comprises of parent groups and one-to-one parent support in the absence of a healthcare professional or facilitator. Unlike peer support for patients, the effectiveness of peer support for parents has rarely been investigated. Shilling and colleagues undertook a systematic review to identify the perceived benefits of parent peer support to the recipient’s health and well-being and family functioning. In addition, studies were evaluated in relation to the type of support offered, duration of support, long-term effects and economic outcomes of peer support.