An Evaluation of a Peer Support Program to Improve Quality of Life with Breast Cancer.
Abstract
The objective of this study is to develop, implement and evaluate a volunteer peer support program for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. This program augments and complements the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery Program. Our primary aim is to determine the value of providing a comprehensive, organizationally-specific, peer support program to women beginning at diagnosis and continuing for up to one year. Participants are paired with a trained breast cancer survivor who provides them with ongoing peer support, in addition to specific information and skills to help them navigate the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program. Study volunteers receive the standard Reach to Recovery training, in addition to a two-day skills training which prepares them to become breast cancer peer support volunteers and advocates. The third year of this four-year project has been devoted to continued implementation of the peer support program in five medical centers. Activities have included: (1) recruiting, interviewing and training volunteers; (2) providing support to volunteers; (3) recruiting participants; (4) matching volunteers with study participants; (5) obtaining follow-up data from participants at 3-months and 12-months; and (6) developing the code book for data entry and the plan for data analysis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA333238
Entities
People
- Carol P. Somkin
Organizations
- Kaiser Foundation Research Institute