Patient ambassador support: Experiences of the mentorship between newly diagnosed patients with acute leukaemia and their patient ambassadors.
Eur J Cancer Care (Engl)
; 29(6): e13289, 2020 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32596951
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The study explores how newly diagnosed patients with acute leukaemia and their patient ambassadors experience the mentorship during the patient ambassador support programme.METHODS:
Explorative semi-structured individual interviews (n = 28) were carried out in patients with acute leukaemia (n = 15) and their patient ambassadors (n = 13). Interpretive description was the methodological framework used for the thematic analysis of the qualitative interview data.RESULTS:
Identified themes were as follows (a) exchanging life experiences (subthemes individualised support and a meaningful return); (b) existential cohesion; (c) interreflection; and (d) terms and conditions (subtheme break in journey). Patients experienced a feeling of being understood, the cohesion leading to hope and a feeling of being able to cope with their situation. Patient ambassadors experienced a sense of meaningfulness and gratitude for life.CONCLUSIONS:
Patients and patient ambassadors experienced benefits from the individualised support. Their shared experiences created a connection and mutual mirroring, which led to a sense of hope and gratitude for life. Initiatives that introduce peer-to-peer support in newly diagnosed patients with acute leukaemia as part of treatment and in daily clinical practice are crucial. Future studies should further examine the feasibility of peer-to-peer support interventions along the trajectory of acute leukaemia.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Mentores
/
Leucemia Mieloide Aguda
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article