Effect of Group Online-based Peer Support Intervention on Psychological Distress of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal Support Care Cancer

Specialties Critical Care
Oncology

Date 2024 Jul 31

PMID 39085495

Authors

Lijun Li

Yinglong Duan

Huan Cao

Xing Zhou

Yue Kang

Ziyu Wan

Dawei Huang

Jianfei Xie

Andy S K Cheng

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients, aged between 15 to 39 years old, suffer from long-term psychological distress, confronting low self-efficacy and various psychological problems. This study constructs a group online-based peer support intervention combined with offline activities to explore its impact on the psychological distress of AYA cancer patients.

Methods: A randomized, two-arm clinical trial was conducted in which 90 AYA cancer patients were recruited. The control group (N = 45) received conventional psychological care and treatment, and the experimental group (N = 45) received 8 weeks of an online peer support intervention. Outcome measures included psychological distress (Distress Thermometer, DT), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), perceived peer support (Cancer Peer Support Scales, CaPSS), and readiness for return to work (Readiness to Return-To-Work Scale, RRTW).

Results: Eight-week peer support intervention was effective in improving psychological distress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in the experimental group with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Time affected psychological distress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in AYA cancer patients (P < 0.05), and there was an interaction with intervention factors (P < 0.05). The intervention has a positive effect on relieving the psychological status of AYA cancer patients. For readiness for return to work, the experimental group was in the preparation for the action-behavioral stage immediately, 1 month and 3 months after the end of the intervention (P < 0.01), supporting AYA cancer patients who have not returned to work to maintain optimal return-to-work readiness.

Conclusions: The group online-based peer support intervention is popular and has good scientificity, effectiveness, and practical significance for AYA cancer patients.

Trial Registration: This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov. (ChiCTR2100053091, registered on 10 November 2021).

Citing Articles

Character strength patterns, social support and psychological distress in adolescents and young adults with cancer: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Qin N, Duan Y, Zhou Y, Li Y, Luo J, Kang Y Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2024; 11(12):100609.

PMID: 39641005 PMC: 11617372. DOI: 10.1016/j.apjon.2024.100609.

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