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

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 and their caregivers.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Malignant Head and Neck Neoplasm
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Survey Administration; Other: Interview; Other: Supportive Care

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: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 56
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: 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

Eligibility Criteria

• 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

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

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

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of mentees meeting with their mentor match at least once	Will be reported with 95% asymptotic confidence interval.	Up to 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Satisfaction with peer mentor contacts	Mean and standard deviation of the Likert score will be reported for each item at each time point.	Up to 6 months
Utilization of the mentorship program	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	Proportions of categories will be reported for topics discussed between mentor and mentee.	Up to 6 months
Rating scale for match	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	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
Mentee psychosocial well-being over time	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)	Caregivers will complete surveys on caregiver burden at three different time points to track changes over time.	Up to 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
• Collaborators: Oregon Health and Science University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ryan J Li, MD, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 15, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 18, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 18, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Methods; Therapeutics; Data Collection; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Public Health; Environment and Public Health; Patient Care; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services; Interviews as Topic; Palliative Care
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00029208 (Other Identifier: OHSU Knight Cancer Institute); NCI-2026-00407 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No