Peer Support Program for Improving Quality of Life Among Head and Neck Patients, Connecting Through Cancer Trial

July 13, 2026 updated by: Ryan Li, MD, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Connecting Through Cancer: Feasibility of a Peer Support Program for Head and Neck Patients

This clinical trial tests whether a peer support program is feasible for head and neck cancer patients. Social support at the time of diagnosis has been shown to improve head and neck cancer quality of life before and after treatment. However, not all patients have a strong social support system. Recent research has shown that peer support programs have the potential to address unmet social support needs among cancer patients. These programs involve cancer survivors (peer mentors) providing emotional and informational support to cancer patients (mentees) earlier in their disease course. Peer support programs may also reduce caregiver burden by providing an additional source of support for the patient. A one-on-one peer support program may be feasible for patients with head and neck cancer and their caregivers.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Primary objective:

I. Examine the feasibility of a peer support program for head and neck cancer patients.

Secondary objective:

I. Collect qualitative and quantitative data on the utilization of the mentorship program.

Exploratory objective:

I. Descriptive analysis of mentee psychosocial wellbeing over time. II. Descriptive analysis of caregiver burden over time.

Outline:

Patients ("mentees") participate in the peer support program by being matched with and meeting with a peer mentor, either virtually or in-person, during the study.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
56

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Alexandria Lichtl, MD
  • Phone Number: 5037061729
  • Email: lichtl@ohsu.edu

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Oregon
      • Portland, Oregon, United States, 97239
        • OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
        • Contact:
          • Ryan J. Li, MD
          • Phone Number: 302-893-4959
          • Email: lry@ohsu.edu
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Ryan J. Li, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • MENTEE GROUP: Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
  • MENTEE GROUP: Willingness to have mentor-mentee interactions with the mentor selected by Imerman Angels (documented as part of informed consent)
  • MENTEE GROUP: Age 18 or older at the time of consent (upper age limit 89)
  • MENTEE GROUP: Diagnosed with head & neck cancer (all stages) and planning to receive, currently receiving or recently completed (within 12 months) active treatment OR in follow-up and reporting unmet social/support needs
  • MENTEE GROUP: English-speaker
  • MENTEE GROUP: Access to electronic device that can be used for communication
  • MENTEE GROUP: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score less than or equal to 2
  • CAREGIVER GROUP: Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
  • CAREGIVER GROUP: Age 18 or older at the time of consent (upper age limit 89)
  • CAREGIVER GROUP: Caregiver of patient diagnosed with head and neck cancer who is also enrolled in the study
  • CAREGIVER GROUP: English-speaker
  • CAREGIVER GROUP: Access to electronic device that can be used for communication

Exclusion Criteria:

  • MENTEE GROUP: Mentee must not be regularly engaging in other support programs at the start of the study intervention
  • MENTEE GROUP: Undergoing active professional treatment for cognitive or emotional difficulties or neurological deficits that preclude adherence to the study protocol
  • MENTEE GROUP: Any other social, emotional, or personal situation that will preclude adherence to the study protocol, at the discretion of the investigator
  • CAREGIVER GROUP: Caregivers must not be regularly engaging in other support programs at the start of the study intervention
  • CAREGIVER GROUP: Undergoing active professional treatment for cognitive or emotional difficulties or neurological deficits that preclude adherence to the study protocol
  • CAREGIVER GROUP: Any other social, emotional, or personal situation that will preclude adherence to the study protocol, at the discretion of the investigator

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Supportive Care (peer support program)

Patients ("mentees") participate in the peer support program by being matched with and meeting with a peer mentor, either virtually or in-person, during the study.

Caregivers of enrolled mentees may also participate on an optional basis by completing study surveys; however, caregivers will not directly participate in the peer mentorship intervention.
Other: Survey Administration
Ancillary studies
Other: Interview
Ancillary studies
Other: Supportive Care
Participate in peer support program
Other Names:
  • Supportive Therapy
  • Symptom Management
  • Therapy, Supportive

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion of mentees meeting with their mentor match at least once
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Will be reported with 95% asymptotic confidence interval.
Up to 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Utilization of the mentorship program
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Mean and standard deviation will be reported for number of times the mentor and mentee have made contact.
Up to 6 months
Mentorship conversation topics
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Proportions of categories will be reported for topics discussed between mentor and mentee.
Up to 6 months
Rating scale for match
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Mean and standard deviation will be reported for rating scale for match (in terms of similar demographics and cancer experience). This will be on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the most similar match.
Up to 6 months
Qualitative data on the benefits and challenges of the mentorship program
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
A subset of mentees (estimated n=10-15) will complete structured exit interviews at 6 months. Interviews will explore perceived benefits, challenges, barriers to engagement, impact on decision-making, and recommendations for program improvement.
Up to 6 months
Satisfaction with peer mentor contacts
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Satisfaction will be measured using a survey that was used in a prior pilot study on a one-on-one cancer peer support program by Valanjow and Weis (2024). The survey contains 14 statements and mentees will be asked to rate how much they feel the statement applies. The scale ranges from 1-5 (1= not applicable and 5=fully applies). Mean and standard deviation of the Likert score will be reported for each item at each time point.
Up to 6 months
Demographic differences between matched mentees who meet with their mentor and those who do not
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Descriptive univariate analysis to evaluate demographic differences between matched mentees who meet with their mentor and those who do not.
Up to 6 months

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mentee psychosocial well-being over time
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Mentees will complete short surveys analyzing coping, anxiety and depression at three different time points to track changes over time.
Up to 6 months
Caregiver burden over time (optional)
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Caregivers will complete surveys on caregiver burden at three different time points to track changes over time.
Up to 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Oregon Health and Science University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Ryan J Li, MD, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 16, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 15, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 13, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • STUDY00029208 (Other Identifier: OHSU Knight Cancer Institute)
  • NCI-2026-00407 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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