A Web-based Peer Navigation Program for Men With Prostate Cancer

Summary

One in nine Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (PC) in their lifetime. Although all treatment options can be effective in controlling the disease, treatment side effects such as problems with erections and controlling the bladder can significantly affect men's quality of life. Many men with PC say they do not get relevant information and emotional support, and experience gaps in care when dealing with these difficult issues. Previous studies have shown that cancer patient navigation improves access to care and support, and reduces healthcare costs. The investigators developed True North Peer Navigation - a peer navigation program for men with PC and a peer navigator training course. Men are matched online with a trained peer navigator who provides practical information and emotional support through the cancer journey. A pilot evaluation showed that it is highly acceptable to patients and peer navigators, and improves patient quality of life, social support and ability to manage their health. In this study, the investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial of the True North Peer Navigation program in cancer centres in Ontario, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive True North Peer Navigation or an active wait list control consisting of usual care with access to information on the True North Peer Navigation website. The investigators will evaluate the effect of the True North Peer Navigation program on patient outcomes such as their ability to take a more active role in their health, quality of life, social support and use of health care services. In addition, the investigators will evaluate how True North Peer Navigation was implemented, the experiences patients and peer navigators, the factors that make it easier or harder for people to deliver the program to patients in different settings, as well as the cost of delivering the program, which will help us learn how to spread the program across the country.

Conditions

• Prostate Cancer

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Peer navigation

Participants in the intervention group will receive ongoing support from a trained peer navigator for 3 months after completing treatment for prostate cancer via the True North Peer Navigation website. Participants will be matched with a trained peer navigator who assesses needs and barriers to care, provides practical, informational, and emotional support, and empowers them to take a proactive role in their health. Participants will also have access to a health resource library on the True North Peer Navigation website that contains local and national resources about prostate cancer.

OTHER

Active wait list control

Participants in the active wait list control group will receive usual care and access to a health resource library on the True North Peer Navigation website that contains local and national resources about prostate cancer. After completion of the study, patients in the active wait list control group will be matched with a peer navigator.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of British Columbia

  collaborator OTHER

• Dalhousie University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Toronto

  collaborator OTHER

• Canadian Cancer Society (CCS)

  collaborator OTHER

• Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Movember Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• Walnut Foundation

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Prostate Cancer Support - Toronto

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Prostate Cancer Group - Burnaby

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University Health Network, Toronto

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jackie Bender, PhD · University Health Network, Toronto

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-05-13

Primary Completion

2024-03-18

Completion

2024-12-01

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations