The motivation to volunteer as a peer support provider to newly diagnosed patients with acute leukemia - A qualitative interview study

PURPOSE: To identify and describe the motivation to volunteer as a peer support provider (PSP) to newly diagnosed patients with acute leukemia (AL).

METHOD: A phenomenological individual interview study based on one open-ended question. The participants (n = 12) had previously been treated for AL and were recruited from an ongoing peer support feasibility study. The interviews were carried out prior to participation as a peer support provider. A phenomenological methodology developed by Amadeo Giorgi was used for the analysis of the data.

RESULTS: The essence of the phenomenon can be characterized by the following characteristics: "A wish to move on with life", "A wish to instill hope to those in a hopeless situation" and "Expecting own course of disease to become meaningful". The motivation reflected the experience that when helping others they also helped themselves.

CONCLUSION: Former patients treated for AL are motivated to undertake their new role as PSP because their own course of disease becomes meaningful, helps facilitate a better post-cancer recovery through greater self-confidence while instilling hope to newly diagnosed patients with AL.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: It is important to identify readiness before recruiting former patients for the PSP role and to develop peer-to-peer programs to sustain motivation. Future studies should examine how motivation changes over time while practicing as a PSP to newly diagnosed patient with AL.