Table 3.

Patient-Mentor Training Recommendations

Training Development

Recommendation 1: Peer-mentor training programs must engage both mentors and their immediate supervisors early and often in the formative/developmental process.

Recommendation 2: Intervention developers and trainers should pay close attention to and embrace the individual strengths and training needs of mentors. Training should be customized but target rapport building, as well as behavioral-change skill sets.

Recommendation 3: Mentor training should be completed using multiple learning methods (e.g., didactics, modeling, and experiential exercises) over a sustained training period to allow for knowledge and skill acquisition with regular feedback from trainers.

Training Implementation

Recommendation 4: Patient mentors benefit from flexible and adaptable training methods (customizable materials, extended training time frames, and flexible scheduling).

Recommendation 5: Mentor training programs should be prepared to provide focused curricula directed at the utilization of user-friendly, evidence-based behavioral-change techniques.

Recommendation 6: Training programs should provide opportunities for mentors to develop a sense of ownership and personal accomplishment, as well as providing modest external incentives.

Recommendation 7: Intervention fidelity is important for mentor training and the use of standardized patients (actors) is a feasible and effective learning/feedback technique.