Selbsthilfe-Coaching für Krebsbetroffene – psychosoziale Unterstützung durch geschulte Krebspatient*innen

For most people affected, cancer is a critical life event that is associated with numerous stresses. In addition to professional psycho-oncological services, self-help offers and exchanges with people who are similarly affected provide important psychosocial support.

The aim of the pilot study is the development, model testing, and evaluation of a self-help coaching (SH-coaching) program by former cancer patients (ExPEERtise study) to provide psychosocial support for currently ill peers.

The training of the SH coaches and the discussions with currently ill cancer patients were scientifically evaluated at the level of the SH coaches and the patients, with the focus of this work being on the presentation of the results of the patient discussions. In addition to self-developed questionnaires, standardized instruments for assessing anxiety (GAD7), depression (PHQ 9), psychosocial distress (NCCN DT), and disease-related social support (SSUK) were used at three measurement points (before and after the discussions and at the end of the program).

A total of N = 25 former cancer patients were trained as SH coaches and conducted individual supportive conversations with currently ill patients (N = 52). The conversations were rated positively in various dimensions such as understanding, confidence, or encouragement. Overall, the patients were very satisfied with the interviews and would recommend SH coaching to other affected people.

Overall, the pilot study detects positive results for the SH-coaching program. In a further study, the effectiveness of peer coaching should be investigated using a randomized controlled trial.