Poster Presentation 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

Pay It Forward: Qualitative analysis of a novel peer to peer support initiative for patients with head and neck cancer (124816)

Matt Mason 1 2 , Justin Roe 3 4 5 , Christine Paul 2 6 , Cassandra White 2 7 , Rosemary Brezmen 1 , Claire Jeans 1
  1. Genesiscare Newcastle, Gateshead, NSW, Australia
  2. Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  3. Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery , Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
  4. Department of Surgery and Cancer , Imperial College London, London, UK
  5. Department of Speech, Voice and Swallowing , The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
  6. School of Medicine and Public Health College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, NEWCASTLE, NSW, Australia
  7. Department of Medical Oncology, Maitland Public Hospital, Metford, NSW, Australia

Objective/Purpose:

Pay It Forward is an anonymous peer-to-peer support initiative developed by the lead author. Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) receive a handwritten card of support during their chemoradiotherapy (CRT) from a patient who previously completed the same treatment. After completing and recovering from treatment themselves, they write their own card which is passed onto a future patient. This pilot study aimed to explore patient perceptions of the initiative.

Sample/Settings:

Single-centre prospective study with convenience sampling.

Procedures:

Individual, semi-structured interviews were undertaken and analysed using inductive thematic analysis with open-ended coding.

Results:

Thirteen patients with mucosal HNC were recruited (12 male, median age 66). Mean interview length was 14 minutes. Thematic saturation and sufficient information power were identified after ten interviews. Four main themes emerged. Themes about receiving the card included: (1) instillment of hope and encouragement - “It made me believe there was light at the end of the tunnel;” (2) and peer-to-peer solidarity – “Someone’s gone through what I’m going through”. Themes about writing the card included: (1) personal reflection - “It makes you think about where you’ve been, where you’re at, and where you’re going;” (2) duty of care to their future peers – “I just hoped that it’s the same for them as my card was for me.” Most patients kept the card and referred to it during and following their treatment. They also shared the experience of receiving/writing the card with family.

Conclusions:

Preliminary analysis suggests this novel peer-to-peer initiative provides psychological support to patients in two times of need. Firstly, receiving the card during treatment through the provision of hope and solidarity. Secondly, writing the card after treatment, creating a self-reflective recovery process and altruistic benefit. Future exploration will assess how this initiate can enhance support for patients with HNC and caregivers.