Caregivers of children with CHD frequently experience psychological distress related to the chronic and unpredictable demands of their child’s diagnosis. Peer support can mitigate distress and promote resilience, but few studies have explored factors affecting its implementation or the experiences of those who provide or facilitate peer support. This study aimed to identify barriers, facilitators, and recommendations for optimising peer support from the unique perspectives of leaders of patient/family organisations within the CHD community.

Using online crowdsourcing methods, qualitative data on the implementation of peer support was collected from 16 leaders representing five patient/family organisations. Crowdsourced data were coded and analysed using thematic analysis, with themes categorised as barriers, facilitators, and recommendations.

Four overarching themes were constructed: 1) Training and Expertise, highlighting the value of lived experience alongside the need for structured training in mental health and bereavement; 2) Peer Mentor Wellbeing, including burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and the importance of clear role boundaries and expectations; 3) Partnerships and Collaboration, emphasising relationships with clinical care centres; and (4) Support for all Families and Family Members, including fathers, siblings, and bereaved families.

The results provide insight into the implementation of peer support, with recommendations for next steps including hospital-community partnerships to improve access and intentional programme design to protect peer mentor wellbeing. Further understanding of caregiver and peer mentor needs is critical for elucidating ways to develop and implement optimal models of peer support.

This study used publicly available Form 990 tax documents to quantify food industry donations to patient advocacy organisations (PAO) dedicated to supporting patients with non-communicable diseases.

Observational, cross-sectional assessment of significant national and international food industry donations to US-based non-communicable disease-focussed PAO between 2000 and 2018. Researchers recorded and categorised the: (1) frequency and value of donations; (2) reason for donation; (3) name and type of PAO recipient and (4) non-communicable disease focus of the PAO.

Form 990 tax documents.

Nine food and beverage companies that donated to non-communicable disease-focussed PAO.

Adjusting for inflation, nine food and beverage companies collectively donated $10 672 093 (n 2709) to the PAO between 2001 and 2018. The largest category of donations was ‘matching gifts’ (67·9 %, median amount = $115·16), followed by ‘general operations support’ (25·8 %, median amount = $107·79). Organisations focussing on cancer received the largest number and amount of donations ($6 265 861, n 1968). Eight of the nine companies made their largest monetary value of donation to PAO focussed on cancer.

Publicly available tax data provide robust information on food industry donation practices. Our findings document the food industry’s role in supporting patient advocacy organisations and raise questions regarding conflicts of interest. Increased awareness of food industry donation practices involving PAO may generate pressure for policies mandating transparency or encourage donors and recipients to voluntarily disclose donations. If public disclosure becomes widespread, constituents, advocates, researchers and policymakers can better supervise and address potential conflicts of interest.