Family caregiver ambassador support for caregivers of patients with newly diagnosed hematological cancer: a feasibility study

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Purpose: This study investigated the feasibility of a one-on-one peer support intervention in family caregivers of newly diagnosed patients with a hematological cancer during initial treatment. Methods: The study was a one-arm feasibility study including family caregivers of newly diagnosed patients with hematological cancer (n = 26) and caregiver ambassadors who were family caregivers of previously treated patients as peer supporters (n = 17). The one-on-one peer support intervention consisted of three components: a caregiver ambassador preparatory course; 12 weeks of one-on-one peer support, and caregiver ambassador network meetings. Results: Family caregivers reported high satisfaction with the delivery and flexibility of one-on-one peer support and improved in most psychosocial outcomes over time. Telephone and text messages were the most used form of contact between the peers. Caregiver ambassadors reported high satisfaction with the preparatory course and used the available support from the network meetings. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: One-on-one peer support provided by a caregiver ambassador is feasible and safe in family caregivers of newly diagnosed hematological cancer patients during their initial treatment. Utilizing volunteer caregiver ambassadors has the potential to be a new support model in family caregivers of hematological cancer patients across diagnostic groups within a clinical setting. Clinical trial registration number: NCT04039100, July 29, 2019.

Original languageEnglish
JournalSupportive Care in Cancer
Volume30
Issue number8
Pages (from-to)6923-6935
Number of pages13
ISSN0941-4355
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

    Research areas

  • Family caregivers, Feasibility, Malignant hematological disease, Peer support, Psychosocial, Supportive Care

ID: 307328152