| ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of peer support intervention on psychological distress in adolescent and young adult cancer patients.MethodsThis study is a randomized controlled trial study.Adolescent and young adult cancer patients from two tertiary hospitals in Changsha from February 2021 to October 2021 were selected.Patients were numbered according to the order of enrollment,and then they were randomly grouped by SPSS 26.0.Participants in the control group received usual psychological care,those in the experimental group received peer support intervention for 2 months in addition to the control group.The primary outcome indicators of this study were psychological distress,anxiety and depression,the secondary outcome indicators were peer support,and readiness for return to work.Distress Thermometer,Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale,Cancer Peer Support Scale and Readiness for ReturnTo-Work Scale were used to measure psychological distress,anxiety and depression,peer support and readiness for return to work in adolescent and young adult cancer patients.A total of 4 measurements were performed for baseline measurement(T0),immediately after the completion of the intervention(T1),1 month after the end of the intervention(T2),and 3months after the end of the intervention(T3).Statistical analysis was performed using the software SPSS 26.0,results were reported based on the principles of intention-to-treat analysis,statistical analysis was performed by applying independent samples t-test,chi-square test,MannWhitney U test,one-way ANOVA,repeated measures ANOVA,and generalized estimating equations.The test level was α=0.05,and the P value was taken as a two-sided probability.Results(1)Forty-five cases were included in each of the two groups before the trial,with four missing from the control group and seven missing from the experimental group.The differences in demographic information,baseline psychological distress,anxiety and depression,peer support,and readiness for return to work scores between the two groups of adolescent and young adult cancer patients were not statistically significant(P > 0.05).(2)Analysis of statistical results suggested that 2 months of peer support intervention was effective in improving psychological distress,anxiety and depression in the experimental group with statistically significant differences(P<0.05),time affected psychological distress,anxiety and depression in adolescent and young adult cancer patients(P<0.05),and there was an interaction with intervention factors(P<0.05).Time affected the peer support in adolescent and young adult cancer patients,but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant and there was no interaction(P>0.05).For readiness for return to work,the test group was in the prepared for action-behavioral stage immediately after the intervention,1 month and 3 months after the end of the intervention,and time affected this dimension score and there was an interaction with the intervention factors(P<0.05).ConclusionBased on the characteristics of peer support intervention and collaborative peer feedback theory,the peer support intervention program designed for adolescent and young adult cancer patients can effectively alleviate the psychological distress,reduce their anxiety and depression symptoms,improve their sense of peer support,and enhance the readiness for return to work.The combined online and offline,cohort model of peer support intervention has good scientific validity and effectiveness among adolescent and young adult cancer patients,and is of generalizable and practical significance.Figure 9,table 12,107 references... |
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