Perspectives of Health Care Providers on Peer Support for Adolescents with Cancer in Pediatrics

Danielle R Weidman; Sandy Che-Eun Serena Lee; Philippe Desmarais; Katye Stevens; Christopher A Klinger; Heather Colquhoun; Jacqueline L Bender; Abha Gupta

doi:10.1089/jayao.2023.0164

Perspectives of Health Care Providers on Peer Support for Adolescents with Cancer in Pediatrics

J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2024 Mar 22. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2023.0164. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Danielle R Weidman^{1

2}, Sandy Che-Eun Serena Lee^{2

3

4}, Philippe Desmarais^{5

6}, Katye Stevens⁷, Christopher A Klinger^{8

9}, Heather Colquhoun¹⁰, Jacqueline L Bender^{11

12}, Abha Gupta^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Haematology/Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
² Department of Radiation Oncology, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
³ Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
⁵ Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
⁶ Carrefour de l'innovation, Centre de Recherche due Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
⁷ Cundill Centre for Child and Youth Depression, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁸ Translational Research Program, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁹ Institute for Life Course and Aging, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
¹⁰ Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
¹¹ ELLICSR Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship Program, Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
¹² Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 38526577
DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2023.0164

Abstract

Health care providers (HCPs) play a key role in psychosocial care of adolescents with cancer (AWC) and present a unique perspective. This prospective study included a brief survey followed by an interview, seeking to understand HCPs' viewpoints on peer support needs of AWC. Participants were 10 multidisciplinary HCPs with 5-30 years of experience. Three key themes found were: observations made and relationships with AWC; challenges to providing support; and potential peer support interventions. HCPs want to provide peer support resources but lack adequate information. Next steps: interventions should include information dissemination to all HCPs caring for AWC.

Keywords: Canada; adolescents with cancer; pediatrics; peer support; social media; teenagers.