A randomized feasibility trial of Managing Your Health: a self-management and peer mentoring intervention for young adult survivors of childhood cancer.

Abstract

Objective: Although childhood cancer survivors require lifelong "risk-based" follow-up care, most adult survivors do not receive such care, and many are lost during the transition from pediatric to adult follow-up care. The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the "Managing Your Health" self-management and peer mentoring intervention to improve transition readiness and self-management skills among young adult survivors of childhood cancer.

Methods: Survivors of childhood cancer ages 18-25 years were randomized 1:1 to the Managing Your Health intervention (six video/phone calls with a peer mentor, another young adult survivor, and five online educational modules) or usual care. Feasibility was measured through enrollment rates, retention rates, and engagement and satisfaction with the intervention. Participants completed measures of transition readiness, self-efficacy, and perceived support at baseline and 2-, 6-, and 12-months post-enrollment.

Results: A total of 50 participants (Mage = 21.1 years; 60% male) enrolled (32% of the total pool was contacted; 76% of those were screened; 94% of those screening eligible enrolled). Twenty-two (88%) of the 25 intervention participants completed the peer mentor calls. On average, participants completed 96% of the online modules, often closely timed to peer mentor calls. Participants indicated high satisfaction and acceptability of the intervention and suggested some improvements to the online modules.

Conclusions: Managing Your Health was feasible and acceptable to young adult survivors and mentors. Peer mentors appeared to serve as supportive accountability agents encouraging engagement with the online modules. Additional refinements will be made to the intervention prior to efficacy testing.