On October 17, 2022, members of the Cancer Care Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) at Humber River Health launched a local peer support program.

From October 20 to 23, members of the PFAC showcased the local initiative in Niagara Falls at a national oncology conference held by the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO).

Their presentation, titled “The Power in Empowerment: Development of a Local Peer Support Program,” highlighted the power of connection and empowerment, as well as the strength that emerges when patients come together and support one another. The full presentation can be viewed here.

In 2021, Humber’s PFAC visited the idea of adopting a peer-to-peer support program as many patients felt uncomfortable in joining external support groups. They wanted to speak with individuals who had been through the process and understood how to navigate the cancer system within Humber, making for a more personable experience. Many patients had already been supporting one another informally through their conversations and interactions in the waiting room or during treatments.

A core group of Patient Advisors were interested in being part of the program, but needed to ensure they were equipped with the information, tools, and techniques to communicate and interact effectively with patients.

After conducting consultations with partnering sites to obtain a greater understanding of their peer support programs, Humber decided to formally collaborate with Wellspring Canada, which offers one of the country’s largest peer support programs to patients.

Wellspring assisted in redesigning the education curriculum needed for the support group and provided peer volunteer training for those who were interested in being part of the program. The training courses greatly emphasized the importance of active listening and how to navigate difficult conversations by going through various case scenarios.

To incorporate a digital element, Healix^TM, Humber’s internally developed electronic platform, was used as the confidential primary method for peer interaction, communication, and resource sharing.

When the program was launched in 2022 as a pilot, it initially focused on offering support to patients with a breast cancer diagnosis, as most of the volunteers had the same diagnosis. After completing the six-month pilot and receiving positive feedback from the three- and six-month evaluation processes, the program expanded in May 2023 to support patients with all diagnoses and onboarded additional peer volunteers.

There are currently seven peer volunteers and 19 patients participating in the peer-to-peer support program, including those who have been discharged from the clinic and are transitioning into survivorship.

Humber’s Cancer Care Peer Support Program’s main objective is to empower patients and assist them in improving their self-care management. The program has provided patients with the encouragement and supportive listening needed to feel validated and to share their experiences with peers.