Peer Mentorship for Heart Disease

Overseen By Samantha Anthony

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Samantha Anthony

Disqualifiers: Cognitive impairments, Psychological disorder, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if the iPeer2Peer Mentorship Program, an online mentorship initiative, can help young adults with heart disease manage their condition and improve mental well-being. Participants will either receive support from a mentor with similar experiences or continue with their regular care before trying the program later. The trial seeks young adults aged 18-25 with heart issues, such as heart failure or a history of heart transplant. Those who feel stressed or anxious about managing their heart condition may find this trial beneficial. Participants must have access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer for communication. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative support methods for managing heart conditions.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on peer support rather than medication changes.

What prior data suggests that the iPeer2Peer Mentorship Program is safe for young adults with heart failure?

Research shows that the iPeer2Peer Mentorship Program is generally safe and well-received. In previous studies, this online peer mentorship program has been used with young people who have chronic illnesses. It effectively helps them manage their health and improve their mental well-being.

Feedback from past research indicates that participants found the program easy to use and helpful. No major safety issues were reported. The program includes trained mentors who provide support through video calls and messages, with researchers monitoring these interactions to ensure safety. This oversight helps quickly address any potential problems, such as inappropriate behavior.

Overall, the program has successfully helped young people manage their health better and feel more connected, suggesting it is a safe option for those considering joining the trial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Peer Mentorship for Heart Disease trial because it explores a unique approach to supporting heart disease patients through the iPeer2Peer (iP2P) mentorship program. Unlike standard treatments that primarily focus on medication and lifestyle changes, this program offers personalized mentorship to help patients manage their condition effectively. What sets it apart is the emphasis on matching mentors and mentees based on shared experiences and characteristics, providing a tailored support system. This innovative method not only aims to enhance self-management skills but also fosters a sense of community and understanding, which could significantly improve patients' quality of life.

What evidence suggests that the iPeer2Peer Mentorship Program is effective for young adults with heart failure?

Research has shown that the iPeer2Peer mentorship program positively impacts young adults with chronic illnesses. Studies have found that this online peer mentorship program improves self-care and mental health. In this trial, participants in the intervention group will receive mentorship through the iPeer2Peer program, which may reduce anxiety and depression for young people with chronic conditions like heart disease. Early results also indicate that the program is practical and effective in enhancing quality of life and easing the transition to adult healthcare. These benefits make iPeer2Peer a promising option for young adults with heart failure. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young adults with heart failure, including those post-heart transplant or who have undergone the Fontan procedure. Participants should be experiencing psychosocial stress and seeking support as they transition into adult healthcare systems.

Inclusion Criteria

I have heart disease, seen a cardiologist regularly, or had heart surgery.

I am 18-25, speak English, and can use WhatsApp on my device.

I am 26-35, stable and willing to train as a heart disease mentor, speak English, and can use WhatsApp.

Exclusion Criteria

Mentor and mentee: Significant cognitive impairments as assessed by a qualified healthcare provider, have a diagnosis of an active psychological disorder likely to influence assessment of health-related quality of life and/or interfere with their ability to manage their heart disease care regimen, participating in other peer support or self-management interventions

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Mentees in the experimental group receive mentorship and support via the iP2P program for 12 weeks

12 weeks

Video calls and text messaging

Waitlist Control

Control group receives standard care and is offered the iP2P intervention after completion of outcome measures

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for psychosocial outcomes and self-management skills post-program

24 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• iPeer2Peer Mentorship Program

Trial Overview The iPeer2Peer (iP2P) online mentorship program is being tested to see if it can improve self-management and psychosocial health outcomes in young adults with heart disease through peer support over video calls and texts.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

In addition to their standard medical care, mentees in the experimental group will receive mentorship and support via the iP2P program. Trained mentors will provide information and support to mentee participants to encourage participation in self-management skill-building tailored to their needs. Each mentor will work with no more than two mentees at once for the study. Efforts will be made to pair mentors and mentees who share similar characteristics (e.g., similar disease severity, symptom profile, treatment regimen experiences, caregiver role, sex/gender, geographic area of residence). To ensure safety, a member of the research team will monitor all calls and messaging conversations as well as intervene in any potential safety concerns (e.g., discussion of suicidal ideation) or inappropriate behavior (e.g. bullying).

Group II: Waitlist control Active Control 1 Intervention

The control group will receive standard care without the iP2P intervention. The control group will be offered the iP2P intervention after completion of all outcome measures for a period of 12 weeks with the same research team support.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Samantha Anthony

Lead Sponsor

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

Collaborator

Trials

131

Recruited

72,600+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07119216

The iPeer2Peer Mentorship Program for Young Adults With ... Young adults with heart failure, including those who have undergone a heart transplant, experience considerable psychosocial stressors associated with ...

2. cjcpc.ca cjcpc.ca/article/S2772-8129(25)00046-6/fulltext

A Mixed-Methods Study of the iPeer2Peer Program in ... iPeer2Peer is an evidence-based virtual peer mentorship program that has improved outcomes for youth in several chronic illness populations.

3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39260753/

The iPeer2Peer mentorship program for adolescent ... Implementation outcomes indicated that the iPeer2Peer program was perceived as feasible, adoptable, acceptable, and appropriate for adolescent thoracic ...

4. jhltonline.org jhltonline.org/article/S1053-2498(24)01832-1/fulltext

The iPeer2Peer mentorship program for adolescent ... This study aimed to determine the implementation and effectiveness outcomes of the iPeer2Peer program for adolescent thoracic transplant ...

5. onlinecjc.ca onlinecjc.ca/article/S0828-282X(22)00754-1/fulltext

VIRTUAL PEER-TO-PEER MENTORING FOR ... Preliminary results suggest that the iP2P CHD virtual peer support program can be feasibly implemented within the CHD Transition Program. Peer mentor ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772812925000466

Virtual Peer Mentoring for Adolescents With Congenital ... iPeer2Peer is an evidence-based virtual peer mentorship program that has improved outcomes for youth in several chronic illness populations.

7. cchaforlife.org cchaforlife.org/programs-and-support/research-and-projects/ipeer2peer/

iPeer2Peer A team of researchers at Toronto Sick Kids have researched the use of the iPeer2Peer mentoring program for teens in transition. To see some of the results.

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11657413/

Bolstering connectedness through peer support The study aimed to capture whether a peer mentoring program (iPeer2Peer©) was successful at improving adolescent disease self-management.