TY - JOUR

T1 - Patient ambassador support in newly diagnosed patients with acute leukemia during treatment: a feasibility study

AU - Norskov, Kristina Holmegaard

AU - Overgaard, Dorthe

AU - Boesen, Jannie

AU - Struer, Anne

AU - El-Azem, Sarah Elke Weber Due

AU - Tolver, Anders

AU - Lomborg, Kirsten

AU - Kjeldsen, Lars

AU - Jarden, Mary

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - PurposeThis study investigated the feasibility of patient ambassador support in newly diagnosed patients with acute leukemia during treatment.MethodsA multicenter single-arm feasibility study that included patients newly diagnosed with acute leukemia (n = 36) and patient ambassadors previously treated for acute leukemia (n = 25). Prior to the intervention, all patient ambassadors attended a 6-h group training program. In the intervention, patient ambassadors provided 12 weeks of support for patients within 2 weeks of being diagnosed. Outcome measures included feasibility (primary outcome), safety, anxiety, and depression measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, quality of life by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Leukemia and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, and symptom burden by MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Patient Activation Measure, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale.ResultsPatient ambassador support was feasible and safe in this population. Patients and patient ambassadors reported high satisfaction with the individually adjusted support, and patients improved in psychosocial outcomes over time. Patient ambassadors maintained their psychosocial baseline level, with no adverse events, and used the available support to exchange experiences with other patient ambassadors and to manage challenges.ConclusionThe patient ambassador support program is feasible and has the potential to be a new model of care incorporated in the hematology clinical care setting, creating an active partnership between patients and former patients. This may strengthen the existing supportive care services for patients with acute leukemia.

AB - PurposeThis study investigated the feasibility of patient ambassador support in newly diagnosed patients with acute leukemia during treatment.MethodsA multicenter single-arm feasibility study that included patients newly diagnosed with acute leukemia (n = 36) and patient ambassadors previously treated for acute leukemia (n = 25). Prior to the intervention, all patient ambassadors attended a 6-h group training program. In the intervention, patient ambassadors provided 12 weeks of support for patients within 2 weeks of being diagnosed. Outcome measures included feasibility (primary outcome), safety, anxiety, and depression measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, quality of life by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Leukemia and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, and symptom burden by MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Patient Activation Measure, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale.ResultsPatient ambassador support was feasible and safe in this population. Patients and patient ambassadors reported high satisfaction with the individually adjusted support, and patients improved in psychosocial outcomes over time. Patient ambassadors maintained their psychosocial baseline level, with no adverse events, and used the available support to exchange experiences with other patient ambassadors and to manage challenges.ConclusionThe patient ambassador support program is feasible and has the potential to be a new model of care incorporated in the hematology clinical care setting, creating an active partnership between patients and former patients. This may strengthen the existing supportive care services for patients with acute leukemia.

KW - Peer support

KW - Patient ambassador

KW - Acute leukemia

KW - Supportive care

KW - Feasibility

KW - Psychosocial

U2 - 10.1007/s00520-020-05819-w

DO - 10.1007/s00520-020-05819-w

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33051828

VL - 29

SP - 3077

EP - 3089

JO - Supportive Care in Cancer

JF - Supportive Care in Cancer

SN - 0941-4355

IS - 6

ER -