Peer-Led Support Intervention for Breast Cancer Survivors.

University Of Connecticut Storrs, Storrs-Mansfield CT

Investigators

Abstract

Black women with breast cancer have a 41% higher mortality rate and experience worse psychosocial outcomes as compared to the general population, such as greater psychological distress and poorer health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Current psychosocial support interventions do not adequately address the needs of Black breast cancer survivors (BBCS) who report a greater need for educational and emotional support as compared to the general population. Psychosocial support interventions may be optimally delivered by peer health workers (peers) who, in the context of a formal intervention, provide support through the shared lived experiences, knowledge, and characteristics of BBCS. The purpose of the proposed K23 award is to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a peer-led, manualized, web-based support intervention to reduce distress and improve HRQOL among BBCS. In aim 1, we will design and manualize a peer-led support intervention to reduce distress and improve HRQOL among BBCS. In aim 2, we will iteratively refine the manualized peer-led support intervention through focus groups with BBCS (N=20) to identify the preferred content, format, and delivery of the intervention. To ensure that the manualized materials accurately reflect the desired content, format, and delivery, we will conduct individual qualitative interviews in a sub-sample of BBCS (N=10). In aim 3, we will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy (on reducing distress and improving HRQOL) of the peer-led support intervention (N=30) (educational support + peer support) compared to the control arm (N=30). To isolate the effect of the peer, the control arm will include educational support delivered by an oncology nurse scientist (no peer support). The K23 will provide the essential mentoring and training to become an independent investigator focused on reducing distress and improving the HRQOL of BBCS. The proposed mentoring team has the expertise to provide in-depth training to achieve the following goals: (1) obtain knowledge and experience with clinical trial design to support the development and refinement of a peer-led support intervention focused on reducing distress and improving the HRQOL among BBCS; (2) obtain knowledge and skills in assessing psychosocial, behavioral, and contextual factors (e.g., conditions of daily living) that influence distress and HRQOL among BBCS, and 3) prepare and secure R01-level funding to test the efficacy of the peer-led support intervention in a larger, fully powered randomized controlled trial.