Web-Based Peer Navigation for Men with Prostate Cancer and Their Family Caregivers: A Pilot Feasibility Study

Abstract

This study assessed the feasibility, acceptability and potential effects of True North Peer Navigation (PN)—a web-based peer navigation program for men with prostate cancer (PC) and their family caregivers. A one-arm, pre-post pilot feasibility study was conducted at two cancer centres in Canada. Participants were matched through a web-app with a specially trained peer navigator who assessed needs and barriers to care, provided support and encouraged a proactive approach to health for 3 months. Descriptive statistics were calculated, along with paired t-tests. True North PN was feasible, with 57.9% (84/145) recruitment, 84.5% (71/84) pre-questionnaire, 77.5% (55/71) app registration, 92.7% (51/55) match and 66.7% (34/51) post-questionnaire completion rates. Mean satisfaction with Peer Navigators was 8.4/10 (SD 2.15), mean program satisfaction was 6.8/10 (SD 2.9) and mean app usability was 60/100 (SD 14.8). At 3 months, mean ± SE patient/caregiver activation had improved by 11.5 ± 3.4 points (p = 0.002), patient quality of life by 1.1 ± 0.2 points (p < 0.0001), informational support by 0.4 ± 0.17 points (p = 0.03), practical support by 0.5 ± 0.25 points (p = 0.04) and less need for support related to fear of recurrence among patients by 0.4 ± 19 points (p = 0.03). The True North web-based peer navigation program is highly feasible and acceptable among PC patients and caregivers, and the associated improvements in patient and caregiver activation are promising. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to determine effectiveness.

A Web-Based Peer-Patient Navigation Program (Compassionate Online Navigation to Enhance Care Transitions) for Youth Living With Childhood-Acquired Disabilities Transitioning From Pediatric to Adult Care: Qualitative Descriptive Study

“…Having a navigator with the same disability and similar life circumstances was viewed as important by participants, as it can help foster trusting relationships. A study of an existing web-based peer navigation program for adult cancer care also found that participants wanted to be matched with a peer navigator who shared common characteristics, particularly the same language and sexual orientation [ 41 ]. Optimal Matching Theory, a well-cited theory in the peer support literature that informed CONNECT, suggests that living with a disability or illness creates the need for social support across many aspects of care (eg, physical and occasional) [ 63 ].…”

“…The NexJ Health Wellness Platform is a web-based platform that has been previously used to build peer navigation programs for adults with chronic illness (eg, cancer [ 41 ]). The profile and dashboard display users’ personal information that they wish to share with their circle of care members (eg, peer navigators, health care providers, and families).…”

Assessing the effectiveness of “BETTER Women”, a community-based, primary care-linked peer health coaching programme for chronic disease prevention: protocol for a pragmatic, wait-list controlled, type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial

“…Similar versions of the NexJ digital app have been shown to be effective in other populations and health conditions including to help prostate cancer patients and caregivers navigate the cancer journey with support from a trained peer navigator. 37 …”