What works in peer support for breast cancer survivors: A qualitative systematic review and meta-ethnography

Breast cancer is associated with adverse physical and psychological consequences. Although research has identified the various benefits linked to psychosocial interventions, mixed results have been found in relation to peer support. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-ethnography is to explore the qualitative evidence on the experience of breast cancer survivors in peer support. A systematic search of the literature was conducted until June 2023, and a meta-ethnographic approach was used to synthesize the included papers. Eleven articles were included, collecting the experience of 345 participants. The following four core areas involved in peer support implementation were identified from the synthesis: Peer support can create understanding and a mutual therapeutic and emotional connection; peer support can facilitate an educational and supportive patient-centered journey; peer support should monitor group members for unpleasant emotional experiences; peer support should have professional supervision of recruitment and training to prioritize quality. These results can be used as patient-centered insights by healthcare professionals to provide evidence-informed peer support programs and address current limitations in the field.

Psychosocial interventions that target adult cancer survivors' reintegration into daily life after active cancer treatment: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

This review explored psychosocial interventions targeting adult cancer survivors' reintegration following active cancer treatment. This included the types of interventions tested and the tools used to measure reintegration.

INTRODUCTION

Cancer survivors face lingering health issues following the completion of cancer treatment. Many cancer survivors still experience unmet psychosocial care needs despite receiving follow-up care. Further, many survivorship interventions do not specifically address outcomes important to survivors. A number of primary studies have identified reintegration as an outcome important to cancer survivors. Reintegration is a concept that focuses on returning to normal activities, routines, and social roles after cancer treatment; however, it is emerging and abstract.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Studies involving adult cancer survivors (18 years or older at diagnosis) of any cancer type or stage were included in this review. Studies with psychosocial interventions targeted at reintegrating the person into daily life after cancer treatment were included. Interventions addressing clinical depression or anxiety, and interventions treating solely physical needs that were largely medically focused were excluded.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), and Embase. Gray literature was searched using ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest). Reference lists of included studies were searched. Studies were screened at the title/abstract and full-text levels, and 2 independent reviewers extracted data. Manuscripts in languages other than English were excluded due to feasibility (eg, cost, time of translations). Findings were summarized narratively and reported in tabular and diagrammatic format.

RESULTS

The 3-step search strategy yielded 5617 citations. After duplicates were removed, the remaining 4378 citations were screened at the title and abstract level, then the remaining 306 citations were evaluated at the full-text level by 2 independent reviewers. Forty studies were included that evaluated psychosocial interventions among adult cancer survivors trying to reintegrate after active cancer treatment (qualitative n=23, mixed methods n=8, quantitative n=8, systematic review n=1). Included articles spanned 10 different countries/regions. Over half of all included articles (n=25) focused primarily on breast cancer survivors. Many studies (n=17) were conducted in primary care or community-based settings. The most common types of interventions were peer-support groups (n=14), follow-up education and support (n=14), exercise programs (n=6), and multidisciplinary/multicomponent programs (n=6). While the majority of included studies characterized the outcome qualitatively, 9 quantitative tools were also employed.

CONCLUSIONS

This review identified 6 types of interventions to reintegrate survivors back into their daily lives following cancer treatment. An important thread across intervention types was a focus on personalization in the form of problem/goal identification. Given the number of qualitative studies, future research could include a qualitative systematic review and meta-aggregation. Quantitative tools may not be as effective for evaluating reintegration. More primary studies, including mixed methods studies, utilizing consistent measurement tools are required. Furthermore, this work provides a basis for future research to continue examining the complexity of implementing such interventions to successfully achieve reintegration. To do so, primary studies evaluating interventions from an implementation science and complex systems perspective would be useful.

REVIEW REGISTRATION

Open Science Framework https://osf.io/r6bmx.

The Construction of Peer Support Among Recently Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) and its treatments decrease patients' psychological well-being. Peer support is one form of social support, but little is known about what gives rise to peer support.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine how peer support is constructed among recently diagnosed BC patients.

METHODS

Eighteen women were randomly picked from 130 women who had received phone calls from a trained peer supporter and were invited to group interviews. In the interviews, patients discussed their cancer, peer support experiences, and social support. The transcribed data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach.

RESULTS

The construction of peer support among newly diagnosed BC patients was complex. It depended on the needs of the patient and the success of interactions. Once they had received a diagnosis, the lives of the patients changed suddenly, and patients dove into the I-we-others consideration and had a need to talk. Interaction with peer supporters gave them a chance to share their stories. At their best, interactions led to belonging, caring, and a sense of security.

CONCLUSIONS

The need to be heard and seen is strong in a patient's changing health situation. Peer support plays an important role in high-standard care and in strengthening patients' self-determination.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Hospitals should create chances for supportive communication, and the supportive communication should be easily accessible and successful. The training of peer supporters should ensure that they have reflected on their own BC process and know how to consider the needs of newly diagnosed patients.

Peer support impact on therapeutic adherence in patients with multiple sclerosis: a mixed-methods pilot trial protocol

INTRODUCTION

Patient partnership is a key component of patient-centred care. One form of partnership is individual peer support, which can improve patients' quality of life and adherence to treatment. Patient with multiple sclerosis could benefit from this type of support, but such an intervention has not been explored in the literature.We propose in this article a pilot study protocol to assess the feasibility and acceptability of healthcare-integrated individual peer support, and the feasibility of a large-scale efficacy trial.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The PAIR-SEP study is a mixed-methods pilot clinical trial combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. Sixty patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis undergoing drug therapy from the Neurology centre of Nantes University Hospital (France) will be randomised on a 1:1 ratio to receive either usual care only or usual care combined with peer support (three individual sessions at 1, 3 and 5 months with a peer helper).We will evaluate clinical outcomes in preparation of the large-scale trial: therapeutic adherence 6 months after baseline, therapeutic compliance, quality of life, anxiety and depression, social support. All dimensions will be assessed using validated health questionnaires at baseline and at 6 months.Intervention's acceptability and feasibility will be evaluated using qualitative methods: undirected interviews with patients from the intervention group and separate focus-groups with the peer helpers the healthcare team.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval was obtained from the local ethics committee on 1 October 2022. This study was designed in collaboration with multiple sclerosis peer helpers.The trial findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05519553.

Patterns of Physical Activity and the Role of Obesity and Comorbidities Among Long-term African American Breast Cancer Survivors

PURPOSE

Physical activity (PA) has many health benefits for cancer survivors, but little research has examined patterns and correlates in African American women, who have a higher burden of comorbidities and obesity. We examined PA types and patterns overall and by obesity and comorbidities among long-term (> 5 years) breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 323 women who were previous participants of a case-only study in three southeastern states. Women completed a survivorship-focused questionnaire using validated measures to collect data on cancer treatment, PA (recreational, household, transportation) and other lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. Logistic regression models estimated adjusted ORs and 95% CIs for total PA (all three types, categorized as tertiles) and meeting PA guidelines (> 150 min/week of exercise).

RESULTS

The mean age of women was 59.1 years (range 27.9-79.5). The most frequent PA types (≥ 1/month) included routine household cleaning (92.9%), shopping (94.7%), walking slowly (42.1%), and walking briskly (40.6%). Less than 40% met PA guidelines. Women with more total comorbidities, arthritis, and obesity had lower levels of total PA (minutes/week) and/or recreational PA. In adjusted models, BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 was associated with reduced odds of total PA (OR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.12-0.88, highest tertile). Arthritis was associated with reduced odds of meeting PA guidelines (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 36-1.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Close to 60% of African American breast cancer survivors did not meet PA guidelines based on recreational PA participation. Household PA was an important source of PA. Comorbidities and obesity were associated with both reduced total PA and not meeting PA guidelines.

"My body, my choice": A qualitative study of women's mastectomy with flat closure experiences

This qualitative study aimed to describe and explore the pre and post-mastectomy experiences of women choosing flat closure after a breast cancer diagnosis. Aesthetic flat closure creates a flat contoured chest wall after a mastectomy. There is limited research on women's flat closure experiences. To fill this gap, we interviewed 19 women (Mage = 53, range 31-72) with breast cancer who underwent a bilateral mastectomy with flat closure, examining decision-making, mirror-viewing, and flat closure experiences. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological design, we generated seven themes. Broadly, women choosing flat closure experienced pressure from their clinicians to undergo breast reconstruction. We found flat closure information to be consistently lacking. Mirror-viewing experiences of women obtaining suboptimal flat closure outcomes led to shattered expectations, mirror avoidance, psychological distress, and body image disturbances. Women negotiated their new reality by discovering ways to feel comfortable with their flat bodies. Regardless of surgical outcome, decision satisfaction was high. These findings illustrate the importance of bodily autonomy and supportive healthcare environments for women making flat closure decisions. Providing comprehensive information on all surgical options and addressing post-operative expectations can improve women's decision-making and mirror-viewing experiences and assist women in adapting to their new body image.

Breast Cancer Champions: a peer-to-peer education and mobile mammography program improving breast cancer screening rates for women of African heritage

INTRODUCTION

Nationally, women of African heritage die at higher rates from breast cancer than women of other races or ethnicities. We developed Breast Cancer Champions (BCC) a peer-to-peer education program, which recruited 12 women and deployed them into the community in August 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic. BCC aims to improve breast cancer screening rates for women of African heritage through peer-to-peer education, which has proven successful for addressing cancer-related health disparities.

METHODS

BCC community experts, or "Champions," are peer-to-peer educators that conduct awareness and screening events in their communities. Champion's education activities were tracked by bi-weekly check-in calls, which recorded the activity type, location, and the number of participants for each event. We used spatial and statistical analyses to determine the efficacy of the program at increasing screening rates for women within the area of Champion activity versus women outside of their activity area.

RESULTS

Over 15 months, Champions conducted 245 in-person or online events to engage women in their community for screening. More women of African heritage were screened in areas Champions were active during the intervention compared to historical data comparing areas outside of the Champion activity in the prior 15 months (X ² = 3.0845, p = 0.079).

CONCLUSION

BCC successes could be attributed to pivoting to online community building when in-person events were restricted and enabling Champions to design and conduct their own events, which increased outreach possibilities. We demonstrate improved screening outcomes associated with an updated peer-to-peer education program.

Impact of the "Looking after my health after cancer" peer-led active patient education program on cancer survivors and their caregivers: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Cancer survival has doubled and is likely to continue increasing in the near future. Cancer survivors experience long-term adverse effects, with associated psychological changes, and often they have needs that are yet to be met. Recognizing the lack of continuity-of-care initiatives for cancer survivors and caregivers, Osakidetza Basque Health Service has started to implement through primary care a peer-led active patient education program called "Looking after my health after cancer". This study explores how cancer survivors and their caregivers rate the experience of participating in the program, to what extent the program helps them understand and address their unmet felt needs, and helps them improve their activation for self-care and self-management.

METHODS

A qualitative exploratory phenomenological study was conducted using five focus groups: four with cancer survivors (n = 29) and caregivers (n = 2), and one with peer leaders (n = 7). Narrative content analysis was performed using the constant comparison method, facilitated by Atlas-ti software. Descriptive analysis of sociodemographic and clinical data was performed. The study was developed according to the Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist.

RESULTS

Five main themes emerged from the content analysis: 1) satisfaction with the program as a positive learning experience; 2) peer sharing and learning ("if they can, so can I"); 3) fears prior to attending the program; 4) becoming more aware of unmet felt needs and feeling understood in the "new normal"; and 5) a more positive view of their experience, helping them become active in self-care and empowered in the self-management of their condition.

CONCLUSIONS

The peer education program has shown to have a positive impact on cancer survivors and caregivers. It is necessary to design, implement and evaluate interventions of this type to address unmet felt needs during cancer survivorship and improve their quality of life.

Psychosocial interventions that facilitate adult cancer survivors' reintegration into daily life after active cancer treatment: a scoping review protocol

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review will map the extent and type of evidence related to psychosocial supports and interventions that facilitate adult cancer survivors' reintegration into daily life and activities after active cancer treatment.

INTRODUCTION

Cancer and its treatment have substantial late and long-term adverse impacts on survivors despite enhanced prospects for survival. Cancer survivors have unmet psychosocial care needs, and recent studies show a lack of focus in survivorship research on outcomes important to survivors. Reintegration is an emerging concept, identified as important to cancer survivors, that focuses on returning to a "new normal" after cancer treatment. This study will explore the available evidence on psychosocial interventions that are targeted toward this outcome.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

The population of interest is adult survivors (18 years and older at diagnosis) of any cancer type. Concepts of interest include psychosocial interventions targeting the outcome and reintegration into daily life after cancer treatment. Interventions addressing clinical depression or anxiety and interventions treating physical needs that are largely medically focused will be excluded.

METHODS

A scoping review of the literature will be conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Embase. Gray literature will be searched using ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Studies will be screened at the title/abstract and full-text levels, and data will be extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Disagreements that cannot be resolved will be settled by a third reviewer. Findings will be summarized narratively and in tabular format.

SCOPING REVIEW REGISTRATION

Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/r6bmx).

Intersectionality Impacts Survivorship: Identity-Informed Recommendations to Improve the Quality of Life of African American Breast Cancer Survivors in Health Promotion Programming

(1) Background: African American women breast cancer survivors face unique experiences that impact their quality of life as they transition beyond treatments. Experiences may be complicated by living at the intersection of systemically oppressed identities, including gender, race, social class, and cancer-related disability. Using the Black Feminist Thought (BFT) framework and the PEN-3 cultural model, this qualitative study sought to: (a) understand African American women breast cancer survivors' lived experiences; (b) examine how the multiple intersecting factors of race, gender, social class/socioeconomic status, and cancer-related disability impact their quality of life; and (c) inform future health promotion programming that is culturally relevant to AAWBCS to improve their quality of life. (2) Methods: Seven focus groups were conducted with 30 African American breast cancer survivors in a Midwestern metropolitan region. Focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Framework analyses were conducted to identify themes with NVivo qualitative analysis software. (3) Results: Four themes emerged: (a) caregiving roles provide both support and challenges for survivors, (b) the "strong Black woman" is inherent in survivor experiences, (c) intersectionality impacts survivorship, and (d) African American women resist oppression through culturally specific supports and advocacy. (4) Conclusions: The intervention point of entry should be at the peer support group level and centered on family and provide community-based support and services. Future research should move upstream to address social determinants of health, including racism, sexism, and ableism; there is a critical need to discuss how structural racism affects health care and develop interventions to address racial discrimination and racial bias in health care.

Psychosocial protective interventions associated with a better quality of life and psychological wellbeing for African American/Black female breast cancer survivors: an integrative review

PURPOSE

This integrative review provides an overview of current psychosocial interventions and qualitative studies exploring African American Breast Cancer Survivors (AABCS)' psychosocial wellbeing.

METHODS

We conducted a search of five databases: PubMed, Academic Search Ultimate, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Peer-reviewed articles written in English and published from 2011 to May 26, 2021 were included. We critically appraised intervention studies and qualitative studies using established frameworks.

RESULTS

Of the 633 unique studies identified, seven interventions and twenty-one qualitative studies were included. Analysis of the interventions revealed the importance of alleviating structural barriers and facilitating peer support for AABCS. Analysis of the qualitative studies revealed seven themes: (1) spirituality/religion, (2) social support, (3) cultural perceptions of BC, (4) lack of representation, (5) negative impacts of treatment, (6) healthcare system experience, and (7) barriers to psychosocial care.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the dearth of psychosocial interventions created specifically for AABCS. The qualitative literature in this review elucidates the unique psychosocial challenges that AABCS experience, providing rich data to inform the creation of future culturally competent interventions in this population.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

This review found spirituality and social support to be protective factors for AABCS' psychosocial wellbeing. Further research using rigorous methodologies is needed to further evaluate how to most effectively alleviate structural barriers that AABCS face in obtaining long-term support.

Stakeholder-Identified Interventions to Address Cancer Survivors' Psychosocial Needs after Completing Treatment

The interventions used in cancer-survivorship care do not always address outcomes important to survivors. This study sought to understand stakeholders’ views on the key concerns of cancer survivors after treatment and the interventions needed to meet survivors’ and families’ psychosocial needs after completing cancer treatment. We conducted a descriptive qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (survivors, family/friend caregivers, oncology providers, primary care providers, and cancer system decision-/policy-makers) from across Canada. For the data analysis, we used techniques commonly employed in descriptive qualitative research, such as coding, grouping, detailing, and comparing the data. There were 44 study participants: 11 survivors, seven family/friend caregivers, 18 health care providers, and eight decision-/policy-makers. Stakeholder-relevant interventions to address survivors’ psychosocial needs were categorized into five groups, as follows: information provision, peer support, navigation, knowledge translation interventions, and caregiver-specific supports. These findings, particularly interventions that deliver timely and relevant information about the post-treatment period and knowledge translation interventions that strive to integrate effective tools and programs into survivorship care, have implications for future research and practice.

In pursuit of equity: partnering to improve breast and prostate cancer outcomes among African Americans

PURPOSE

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a collaborative partnership approach that leverages the strengths of academic-community groups to address local problems. CBPR emphasizes equity (e.g., co-learning, power-sharing, participatory decision-making) among groups to achieve goals and promote sustainability. This study examines group dynamics, and their influence on achieving shared goals, within a CBPR-guided partnership established to improve breast and prostate cancer outcomes among underserved African American communities in St. Louis, Missouri.

METHODS

We conducted in-person, semi-structured interviews with key academic and community informants and surveyed via email community collaborators involved in outreach activities. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and independently coded by two authors using an iterative, open-coding process to identify major themes. Surveys were summarized using similar coding criteria for open-ended responses and descriptive statistics for discrete responses. Using a grounded theory approach, we summarized and compared themes from each data source to identify similarities and differences and triangulated results to generate overarching thematic findings.

RESULTS

Participants described benefits from the partnership (funding; clinical, public health and evaluation expertise; training and networking opportunities) and found beneficial ways to leverage the partners' strengths in collaborating Participants expressed long-term commitment to sustaining the partnership and building capacity to address cancer disparities, but faced challenges related to power-sharing and participatory decision-making.

CONCLUSIONS

Using CBPR to address cancer disparities is an effective approach to capacity-building and achieving shared goals. By evaluating the structures and processes within CBPR collaborations through the lens of equity, partners may identify and address challenges that threaten long-term partnership sustainability.

Downstream hospital system effects of a comprehensive trauma recovery services program

BACKGROUND

Trauma patients are often noted to have poor compliance but high recidivism and readmission rates. Participation in a trauma recovery services (TRS) program, which provides peer support and other psychosocial resources, may impact the trajectory of patient recovery by decreasing barriers to follow-up. We hypothesized that TRS participants would have greater downstream nonemergent use of our hospital system over the year following trauma, manifested by more positive encounters, fewer negative encounters, and lower emergency department (ED) charges.

METHODS

We studied trauma survivors (March 2017 to March 2018) offered TRS. Hospital encounters and charges 1 year from index admission were compared between patients who accepted and declined TRS. Positive encounters were defined as outpatient visits and planned admissions; negative encounters were defined as no shows, ED visits, and unplanned admissions. Charges were grouped as cumulative ED and non-ED charges (including outpatient and subsequent admission charges). Adjusted logistic and linear regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with positive/negative encounters and ED charges.

RESULTS

Of 511 identified patients (68% male; injury severity score, 14 [9-19]), 362 (71%) accepted TRS. Trauma recovery services patients were older, had higher injury severity, and longer index admission length of stay (all p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounders, TRS patients were more likely to have at least one positive encounter and were similarly likely to have negative encounters as patients who declined services. Total aggregate charges for this group was US $74 million, of which US $30 million occurred downstream of the index admission. Accepting TRS was associated with lower ED charges.

CONCLUSION

A comprehensive TRS program including education, peer mentors, and a support network may provide value to the patient and the health care system by reducing subsequent care provided by the ED in the year after a trauma without affecting nonemergent care.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/care management, level IV.