Peer Support

Stronger Together
An evidence-based, peer-to-peer supportive program that uses trained, supervised cancer survivor-volunteers to fill gaps in professional support services and assist cancer patients and their families navigate their treatment.

OBJECTIVES:
‣Inform patients and care partners about cancer related topics
‣Decrease distress for patients and care partners
‣Increase adherence to treatment
‣Provide emotional and navigational support for patients and care partners
‣Build a sense of community among the cancer survivor population

OUTCOMES:
‣Reduction in patient and care partner distress
‣Improved cancer awareness among patients and care partners
‣Reduced burden on hospital staff
‣Increased sense of community and purpose for peer mentor volunteers

IMPACT:
More than 300 women who have experienced cancer have been trained to act as peer mentor advocates, providing support and navigational aid to women recently diagnosed with cancer in Viet Nam. The program has been incorporated into four oncology centers; Hue Central Hospital, K3 National Cancer Hospital in Hanoi, Hung Vuong Women’s Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and at the Can Tho Oncology Hospital, and is coordinated and supervised by a clinical team at each site. We are currently running a pilot study with New York University and our partners in Vietnam. The pilot is funded through a grant from the National Cancer Institute and hopes to measure the efficacy and importance of our work.