{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T18:53:52Z","timestamp":1789584832199,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"JMIR Publications Inc.","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Med Internet Res"],"abstract":"Abstract<\/jats:title>\n \n Background<\/jats:title>\n Family caregivers have primary responsibility for providing care in the home for people with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). This may negatively affect caregiver health. Peer support may enhance quality of life and reduce stress among family caregivers, but few trials have been conducted in NMD caregivers. Therefore, we conducted a randomized controlled trial with a nested qualitative evaluation (this report) of a 12-week digital peer support intervention for family caregivers of children and adults with NMD.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n The aim of the study is to gain insights into the perspectives of intervention participants and peer mentors regarding their experiences with the trial\u2019s digital peer support program.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n We conducted a nested exploratory qualitative study (August 2022 to March 2024), recruiting participants who were randomized to the intervention arm of the randomized controlled trial and study mentors. We conducted semistructured interviews via videoconferencing. Homophily theory and the theoretical framework of acceptability informed our analyses.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n We interviewed 21 participants and 10 mentors, identifying four themes: (1) program participation motivators, (2) program expectations and appreciation, (3) program appropriateness, and (4) the peer mentor-mentee dyad. We found that participants were motivated to join the program due to existing caregiver burden and social isolation. Participants and mentors appreciated the program\u2019s sense of community and flexible digital format, with participants valuing emotional and informational support. However, challenges in relating to each other\u2019s situations due to participant and mentor heterogeneity in the extent of the care recipient\u2019s needs were perceived to limit benefit.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n Peer support was perceived as potentially beneficial in relieving caregiver burden and social isolation, creating a sense of community that provides emotional and informational support. The digital and flexible format was an important facilitator. An important barrier was participant-mentor heterogeneity resulting in reduced perception of homophily. These findings can inform the development of other digital peer support programs to alleviate caregiver burden and isolation and provide emotional relief and informational guidance.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2196\/72141","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,28]],"date-time":"2025-07-28T21:11:35Z","timestamp":1753737095000},"page":"e72141-e72141","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Family Caregivers of Individuals With Neuromuscular Disease Participating in a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Digital Peer Support Program: Nested Qualitative Study"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"27","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-1333-5752","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Samantha","family":"Mekhuri","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5042-0332","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Craig","family":"Dale","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6579-2489","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francine","family":"Buchanan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-9617-6455","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nouma","family":"Hammash","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-0763-0213","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Munazzah","family":"Ambreen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3017-1583","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sian","family":"Saha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1700-3972","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Louise","family":"Rose","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3032-5434","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Reshma","family":"Amin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1010","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,28]]},"reference":[{"issue":"5","key":"R1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0036-1586263","article-title":"Neuromuscular diseases","volume":"36","author":"Morrison","journal-title":"Semin Neurol"},{"issue":"5","key":"R2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"594","DOI":"10.1017\/cjn.2020.92","article-title":"Tackling the burden of neurological diseases in Canada with virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond","volume":"47","author":"Appireddy","journal-title":"Can J Neurol Sci"},{"key":"R3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/20552076221134964","article-title":"The experience of family caregivers of ventilator-assisted individuals who participated in a pilot web-based peer support program: a qualitative study","volume":"8","author":"Wasilewski","journal-title":"Digit Health"},{"issue":"3","key":"R4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"357","DOI":"10.1513\/AnnalsATS.201708-663OC","article-title":"Transitions to home mechanical ventilation: the experiences of Canadian ventilator-assisted adults and their family caregivers","volume":"15","author":"Dale","journal-title":"Ann Am Thorac Soc"},{"issue":"2","key":"R5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.31887\/DCNS.2009.11.2\/hbrodaty","article-title":"Family caregivers of people with dementia","volume":"11","author":"Brodaty","journal-title":"Dialogues Clin Neurosci"},{"key":"R6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lakey B Cronin A . 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