This clinical trial tests whether a peer support program is feasible for head and neck cancer patients. Social support at the time of diagnosis has been shown to improve head and neck cancer quality of life before and after treatment. However, not all patients have a strong social support system. Recent research has shown that peer support programs have the potential to address unmet social support needs among cancer patients. These programs involve cancer survivors (peer mentors) providing emotional and informational support to cancer patients (mentees) earlier in their disease course. Peer support programs may also reduce caregiver burden by providing an additional source of support for the patient. A one-on-one peer support program may be feasible for patients with head and neck cancer and their caregivers.
Primary objective: I. Examine the feasibility of a peer support program for head and neck cancer patients. Secondary objective: I. Collect qualitative and quantitative data on the utilization of the mentorship program. Exploratory objective: I. Descriptive analysis of mentee psychosocial wellbeing over time. II. Descriptive analysis of caregiver burden over time. Outline: Patients ("mentees") participate in the peer support program by being matched with and meeting with a peer mentor, either virtually or in-person, during the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
56
Participate in peer support program
Ancillary studies
Ancillary studies
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
Portland, Oregon, United States
Proportion of mentees meeting with their mentor match at least once
Will be reported with 95% asymptotic confidence interval.
Time frame: Up to 6 months
Satisfaction with peer mentor contacts
Satisfaction will be measured using a survey that was used in a prior pilot study on a one-on-one cancer peer support program by Valanjow and Weis (2024). The survey contains 14 statements and mentees will be asked to rate how much they feel the statement applies. The scale ranges from 1-5 (1= not applicable and 5=fully applies). Mean and standard deviation of the Likert score will be reported for each item at each time point.
Time frame: Up to 6 months
Utilization of the mentorship program
Mean and standard deviation will be reported for number of times the mentor and mentee have made contact.
Time frame: Up to 6 months
Mentorship conversation topics
Proportions of categories will be reported for topics discussed between mentor and mentee.
Time frame: Up to 6 months
Rating scale for match
Mean and standard deviation will be reported for rating scale for match (in terms of similar demographics and cancer experience). This will be on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the most similar match.
Time frame: Up to 6 months
Qualitative data on the benefits and challenges of the mentorship program
A subset of mentees (estimated n=10-15) will complete structured exit interviews at 6 months. Interviews will explore perceived benefits, challenges, barriers to engagement, impact on decision-making, and recommendations for program improvement.
Time frame: Up to 6 months
Demographic differences between matched mentees who meet with their mentor and those who do not
Descriptive univariate analysis to evaluate demographic differences between matched mentees who meet with their mentor and those who do not.
Time frame: Up to 6 months
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