{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T15:02:09Z","timestamp":1785164529146,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785110400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Cardiovasc. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Peer support in heart transplantation (HTX) remains underexplored.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We investigated recipients' experiences with peer support and its associations with quality of life, health literacy (BRIEF), medication adherence, depressive symptoms (BDI-H) and alcohol consumption (AUDIT).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Participants (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 201, 152 male) evaluated whether they received peer support across four phases of transplant journey: pre-waiting list, waiting list, intensive care unit and first post-transplant year (FY). Support was rated as positive, negative, not received but requested, or not received and not requested. Peer support was significantly more frequent after transplantation than before (75% vs. 48%,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.001). A notable proportion did not receive support despite wishing for it (19.9 -7%). Most participants reported peer support as highly beneficial, and no negative experiences were reported. No psychosocial differences were observed between supported and unsupported recipients pre-HTX.Those receiving support in the FY had higher education attainment. Individuals who would have requested support showed the lowest BRIEF, the highest BDI-H and AUDIT scores. Regression analyses revealed no predictive effects of peer support.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Overall, peer support is common and positively perceived among HTX recipients. However, individuals with unmet support needs during the first post-transplant year may represent a vulnerable subgroup, underscoring the need for more structured peer support interventions.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fcvm.2026.1888455","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T14:40:16Z","timestamp":1785163216000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Association between spontaneous peer support experience and psychosocial factors among heart transplant recipients"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Alexandra","family":"Assabiny","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Heart and Vascular Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]},{"name":"Doctoral School of Mental Health Sciences, Semmelweis University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Orsolya","family":"Papp-Zipernovszky","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Heart and Vascular Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]},{"name":"Department of Personality and Health Psychology, Psychological Institute, Faculty of Education and Psychology, E\u00f6tv\u00f6s Lor\u00e1nd University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zs\u00f3fia","family":"Ocsovszky","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Heart and Vascular Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Blanka","family":"Ehrenberger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Heart and Vascular Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]},{"name":"Doctoral School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Research Program, Semmelweis University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"B\u00e9la","family":"Merkely","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Heart and Vascular Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Be\u00e1ta","family":"D\u00e1vid","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Mental Health, Semmelweis University","place":["Budapest, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"449","DOI":"10.1016\/j.hrtlng.2013.08.003","article-title":"The psychological experiences of adult heart transplant recipients: a systematic review and meta-summary of qualitative findings","volume":"42","author":"Conway","year":"2013","journal-title":"Heart Lung J Acute Crit Care."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"689","DOI":"10.1097\/PSY.0000000000000833","article-title":"Postoperative psychological disorders among heart transplant recipients: a meta-analysis and meta-regression","volume":"82","author":"Loh","year":"2020","journal-title":"Psychosom Med"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1646086","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1646086","article-title":"Experiences, perceptions and unexpressed needs of patients undergoing heart and lung transplantation in intensive care unit: a qualitative phenomenological study","volume":"16","author":"Ugenti","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7867","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14217867","article-title":"Physical limitations and psychological distress as barriers to physical activity in heart transplantation patients: a qualitative study","volume":"14","author":"Marques-Sule","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"952","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm12030952","article-title":"Donor and donation images (DDI)-A scoping review of what we know and what we don't","volume":"12","author":"Laskowski","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"858","DOI":"10.1097\/01.tp.0000258599.65257.a6","article-title":"Rates and risk factors for nonadherence to the medical regimen after adult solid organ transplantation","volume":"83","author":"Dew","year":"2007","journal-title":"Transplantation"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.1002\/lt.21278","article-title":"Meta-analysis of risk for relapse to susbtance use after transplantation of the liver or other solid organs","volume":"14","author":"Dew","year":"2008","journal-title":"Liver Transpl"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healun.2009.07.018","article-title":"Social isolation and depression predict 12-month outcomes in the \u201cwaiting for a new heart study\u201d","volume":"29","author":"Spaderna","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Heart Lung Transplant"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.1177\/0022146510395592","article-title":"Mechanisms linking social ties and support to physical and mental health","volume":"52","author":"Thoits","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Health Soc Behav"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1016\/j.trre.2017.04.001","article-title":"Is social support associated with post-transplant medication adherence and outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"32","author":"Ladin","year":"2018","journal-title":"Transplant Rev"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"803","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healun.2018.03.005","article-title":"The 2018 ISHLT\/APM\/AST\/ICCAC\/STSW recommendations for the psychosocial evaluation of adult cardiothoracic transplant candidates and candidates for long-term mechanical circulatory support","volume":"37","author":"Dew","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Heart Lung Transplant"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1529","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healun.2024.05.010","article-title":"International society for heart and lung transplantation guidelines for the evaluation and care of cardiac transplant candidates\u20142024","volume":"43","author":"Peled","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Heart Lung Transplant"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1155\/2012\/547312","article-title":"Preparation and support of patients through the transplant process: understanding the Recipients\u2019 perspectives","volume":"2012","author":"Mauthner","year":"2012","journal-title":"Nurs Res Pract"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2702.2007.02206.x","article-title":"Heart transplantation experiences: a phenomenological approach","volume":"17","author":"Sadala","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Clin Nurs"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"400","DOI":"10.1177\/1474515112466155","article-title":"Patients\u2019 experiences of information and support during the first six months after heart or lung transplantation","volume":"12","author":"Ivarsson","year":"2013","journal-title":"Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.4103\/2277-9531.154037","article-title":"Life experiences in heart transplant recipients","volume":"4","author":"Monemian","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Educ Health Promot"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1556\/650.2024.32977","article-title":"Peer mentor programs in adult heart transplant population","volume":"165","author":"Assabiny","year":"2024","journal-title":"Orv Hetil"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1619","DOI":"10.1007\/s11136-021-02763-y","article-title":"Omer B. Life experiences of adult heart transplant recipients: a new life, challenges, and coping","volume":"30","author":"Fatma","year":"2021","journal-title":"Qual Life Res"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1030","DOI":"10.1016\/s1053-2498(01)00285-6","article-title":"Evaluation of a mentorship program for heart transplant patients","volume":"20","author":"Wright","year":"2001","journal-title":"J Heart Lung Transplant"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"612","DOI":"10.1111\/petr.12127","article-title":"Adolescent transplant recipients as peer mentors: a program to improve self-management and health-related quality of life","volume":"17","author":"Jerson","year":"2013","journal-title":"Pedia Transpl"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e14345","DOI":"10.1111\/petr.14345","article-title":"Acceptability and utility of a virtual pediatric transplant peer mentoring program: a mixed-methods analysis of a novel quality improvement program","volume":"26","author":"Criss","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pedia Transpl"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"jsag021","DOI":"10.1093\/jpepsy\/jsag021","article-title":"Prioritizing mentors in a peer-to-peer support program for young adult transplant recipients: a qualitative account of mentors\u2019 experience to inform success and sustainability","author":"Anthony","year":"2026","journal-title":"J Pediatr Psychol"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"858","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healun.2024.09.001","article-title":"The iPeer2Peer mentorship program for adolescent thoracic transplant recipients: an implementation-effectiveness evaluation","volume":"44","author":"Anthony","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Heart Lung Transplant"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e13900","DOI":"10.1111\/petr.13900","article-title":"Exploring the potential for online peer support mentorship: perspectives of pediatric solid organ transplant patients","volume":"25","author":"Anthony","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pediatr Transplant"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"977","DOI":"10.1007\/s11136-013-0537-z","article-title":"Assessing the performance of the EQ-VAS in the NHS PROMs programme","volume":"23","author":"Feng","year":"2014","journal-title":"Qual Life Res"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1579","DOI":"10.1556\/650.2021.32212","article-title":"Validation of health literacy questionnaires in Hungarian adult sample","volume":"162","author":"M\u00e1ty\u00e1s","year":"2021","journal-title":"Orv Hetil"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1080\/10810730.2012.712615","article-title":"Measurement variation across health literacy assessments: implications for assessment selection in research and practice","volume":"17","author":"Haun","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Health Commun"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1281","DOI":"10.1111\/bcp.14193","article-title":"The medication adherence report scale: a measurement tool for eliciting patients\u2019 reports of nonadherence","volume":"86","author":"Chan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br J Clin Pharmacol"},{"key":"B29","first-page":"384","article-title":"Psychometric properties of the Hungarian version of the shortened beck depression inventory","volume":"16","author":"R\u00f3zsa","year":"2001","journal-title":"Psychiatr Hung"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14249","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-41437-2","article-title":"Psychiatric health care need in Hungary identified by the short screening algorithm of depression and suicide risk used in general medical practices","volume":"13","author":"Di\u00f3szegi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1556\/MENTAL.7.2006.3.8","article-title":"Validation of the short (5-item) version of the who well-being scale based on a Hungarian representative health survey (hungarostudy 2002)","volume":"7","author":"Susanszky","year":"2006","journal-title":"Mentahigiene es Pszichoszomatika"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"550","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02599279","article-title":"Screening with the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) in an inner-city population","volume":"9","author":"Isaacson","year":"1994","journal-title":"J Gen Intern Med"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.publhealth.23.100901.140546","article-title":"The importance of the normality assumption in large public health data sets","volume":"23","author":"Lumley","year":"2002","journal-title":"Annu Rev Public Health"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e1000316","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1000316","article-title":"Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review","volume":"7","author":"Holt-Lunstad","year":"2010","journal-title":"PLoS Med"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1177\/082585970101700109","article-title":"Cancer self-help groups are here to stay: issues and challenges for health professionals","volume":"17","author":"Gray","year":"2001","journal-title":"J Palliat Care"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e012272","DOI":"10.1161\/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.124.012272","article-title":"Review of the global activity of heart transplant","volume":"18","author":"El Rafei","year":"2025","journal-title":"Circ Heart Fail"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"745","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healun.2003.07.002","article-title":"An internet-based intervention to improve psychosocial outcomes in heart transplant recipients and family caregivers: development and evaluation","volume":"23","author":"Dew","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Heart Lung Transplant"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.7182\/prtr.1.8.3.dv4g92rl153v7583","article-title":"Perceived stressors and coping strategies among heart transplant candidates","volume":"8","author":"Cupples","year":"1998","journal-title":"J Transpl Coord"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1399-0012.2009.00966.x","article-title":"Educational level, coping, and psychological and physical aspects of quality of life in heart transplant candidates","volume":"23","author":"Burker","year":"2009","journal-title":"Clin Transplant"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"427","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-022-07816-7","article-title":"Peer support for people with chronic conditions: a systematic review of reviews","volume":"22","author":"Thompson","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pec.2013.02.002","article-title":"The experience and impact of chronic disease peer support interventions: a qualitative synthesis","volume":"92","author":"Embuldeniya","year":"2013","journal-title":"Patient Educ Couns"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1007\/s10464-007-9100-9","article-title":"The relationship between self-reported received and perceived social support: a meta-analytic review","volume":"39","author":"Haber","year":"2007","journal-title":"Am J Community Psychol"},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-publhealth-031816-044628","article-title":"The relationship between education and health: reducing disparities through a contextual approach","volume":"39","author":"Zajacova","year":"2018","journal-title":"Annu Rev Public Health"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"321","DOI":"10.1016\/s0020-7489(02)00092-5","article-title":"Peer support within a health care context: a concept analysis","volume":"40","author":"Dennis","year":"2003","journal-title":"Int J Nurs Stud"},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e000328","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjdrc-2016-000328","article-title":"Can peer support be cost saving? An economic evaluation of RAPSID: a randomized controlled trial of peer support in diabetes compared to usual care alone in east of England communities","volume":"5","author":"Wingate","year":"2017","journal-title":"BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcvm.2026.1888455\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T14:40:17Z","timestamp":1785163217000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcvm.2026.1888455\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]]},"references-count":45,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fcvm.2026.1888455"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fcvm.2026.1888455","relation":{},"ISSN":["2297-055X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2297-055X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]]},"article-number":"1888455"}}