Table 2 Themes emerging from the included papers from the two identified models of peer support: diabetic patients and community health workers

1. Responsibility

Recruited by healthcare professionals at the clinic or by the research team [30, 31, 35]

2. Origin

From the local community [30, 31, 33,34,35]

1. Origin

CHWs from the local community from existing CHW infrastructure [32, 36, 38, 39]

1. Criteria:

Good glycaemic control [30, 31, 35, 40]

1. Criteria

Education levels

Some high school education [36, 38]; high school diploma [41]; primary education [41]

Leadership qualities [30, 33,34,35, 40]

Experience

Two years of training; healthcare or community experience; subjected to an entrance examination [41]

Achieve pass mark [34]

Achieve pass mark [37, 39]

1. Provision

Health-care specialists [30, 31, 33, 35]

1. Provision

Health-care specialists [36, 39]

Trainers, trained by research members [38]

2. Duration

Two days [31, 33, 35, 40]

Three days [30]

Four days [34]

2. Duration

Initial four-days, followed by two days [36]

Initial five days followed by five days [39]

Four eight-hour days, followed by four hours per month for six months [38]

10 eight-hour days [32]

Initial six hours, two hours follow-up [37]

3. Content

Diabetes-specific information [31, 33, 35, 40]

Communication skills [30, 31, 34, 35, 40]

Tailoring information for the patient [31, 33, 34, 40]

Effective individual and group management [30, 40]

3. Content

Diabetes-specific information [32, 36,37,38,39]

Communication skills [32, 36, 38, 39]

Tailoring information for the patient [32, 36]

Behaviour change principles [38, 39]

4. Theoretical basis for training

Socio-constructivist theory [34]

Social cognitive theory [35]

4. Theoretical basis for training

Motivational interviewing principles [36, 38, 39]

1. Group interventions

[30, 33, 34, 40]

1. Group interventions

[36, 37, 39, 41]

2. Individual interventions

[31, 35]

2. Individual interventions

[32, 38]

3. Additional strategy

Telephone [30, 31, 35, 40]

3. Additional strategy to group intervention

Individual face-to-face [37, 39, 41]

1. Weekly

[30, 31, 33]

1. Weekly

[32, 39, 41]

2. Monthly

[30, 34, 35, 40]

2. Monthly

[36, 38, 41]

3. Three-monthly

[37, 41]

1. Four weeks

Follow-up at three and six months [33]

1. 40 days

[32]

2. Three months

[31]

Follow-up at weeks 24 and 35 [35]

2. Four months

[36, 39, 41]

3. Six months

[30, 40]

3. Six months

[37, 38, 41]

4. 12 months

[34]

4. 12 months

[41]

1. Audio-recording

Group meetings were recorded and provided to research team for feedback [30]

1. Evaluation of CHWs

CHWs were evaluated by researcher at health centre and given feedback [36, 38]

2. Telephone contact

The research team contacted the peer supporters weekly [30]

3. Debriefing meetings

Two fortnightly and two-monthly debriefing meetings [35]

4. Clinic visits

Supervision at the monthly clinic visits, feedback was provided [35]