Randomized controlled trial of a telephone-based peer-support program for women carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation: impact on psychological distress.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of a telephone-based peer-delivered intervention in reducing distress among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation. The intervention involved trained peer volunteers contacting women multiple times over a 4-month period to provide informational, emotional, and practical support.


METHODS
Three hundred thirty-seven participants completed the baseline questionnaire, and those reporting interest in talking to other mutation carriers were randomly assigned to either the usual care group (UCG; n = 102) or the intervention group (IG; n = 105). Participants and researchers were not blinded to group allocation. Two follow-up questionnaires were completed, one at the end of the intervention (4 months after random assignment, time 2) and one 2 months later (time 3). Outcomes included breast cancer distress (primary outcome), unmet information needs, cognitive appraisals about mutation testing, and feelings of isolation.


RESULTS
There was a greater decrease in breast cancer distress scores in the IG than UCG at time 2 (mean difference, -5.96; 95% CI, -9.80 to -2.12; P = .002) and time 3 (mean difference, -3.94; 95% CI, -7.70 to -0.17; P = .04). There was a greater reduction in unmet information needs in the IG than UCG (P < .01), with unmet needs being lower in the IG than UCG at time 2. There was a greater reduction in Cognitive Appraisals About Genetic Testing stress subscale scores in the IG than UCG (P = .02), with significantly lower scores among the IG than UCG at time 2 (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention is effective in reducing distress and unmet information needs for this group of women. Identifying strategies for prolonging intervention effects is warranted.
Victoria M. White, Ashley Farrelly, and Michael Jefford, Cancer Council Victoria; Elizabeth Williamson and Ingrid Winship, The University of Melbourne; Ingrid Winship, Royal Melbourne Hospital; Elizabeth Williamson, Monash University, Melbourne; Mary-Anne Young and Michael Jefford, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne; Sandra Ieropoli, Early in Life Mental Health Service, Monash Health Mental Health Program, Clayton, Victoria; Bettina Meiser, Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney; and Jessica Duffy, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. Vicki.White@cancervic.org.au.
Victoria M
VM
White
Victoria M. White, Ashley Farrelly, and Michael Jefford, Cancer Council Victoria; Elizabeth Williamson and Ingrid Winship, The University of Melbourne; Ingrid Winship, Royal Melbourne Hospital; Elizabeth Williamson, Monash University, Melbourne; Mary-Anne Young and Michael Jefford, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne; Sandra Ieropoli, Early in Life Mental Health Service, Monash Health Mental Health Program, Clayton, Victoria; Bettina Meiser, Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney; and Jessica Duffy, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Mary-Anne
MA
Young
Victoria M. White, Ashley Farrelly, and Michael Jefford, Cancer Council Victoria; Elizabeth Williamson and Ingrid Winship, The University of Melbourne; Ingrid Winship, Royal Melbourne Hospital; Elizabeth Williamson, Monash University, Melbourne; Mary-Anne Young and Michael Jefford, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne; Sandra Ieropoli, Early in Life Mental Health Service, Monash Health Mental Health Program, Clayton, Victoria; Bettina Meiser, Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney; and Jessica Duffy, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Ashley
A
Farrelly
Victoria M. White, Ashley Farrelly, and Michael Jefford, Cancer Council Victoria; Elizabeth Williamson and Ingrid Winship, The University of Melbourne; Ingrid Winship, Royal Melbourne Hospital; Elizabeth Williamson, Monash University, Melbourne; Mary-Anne Young and Michael Jefford, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne; Sandra Ieropoli, Early in Life Mental Health Service, Monash Health Mental Health Program, Clayton, Victoria; Bettina Meiser, Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney; and Jessica Duffy, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Bettina
B
Meiser
Victoria M. White, Ashley Farrelly, and Michael Jefford, Cancer Council Victoria; Elizabeth Williamson and Ingrid Winship, The University of Melbourne; Ingrid Winship, Royal Melbourne Hospital; Elizabeth Williamson, Monash University, Melbourne; Mary-Anne Young and Michael Jefford, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne; Sandra Ieropoli, Early in Life Mental Health Service, Monash Health Mental Health Program, Clayton, Victoria; Bettina Meiser, Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney; and Jessica Duffy, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Michael
M
Jefford
Victoria M. White, Ashley Farrelly, and Michael Jefford, Cancer Council Victoria; Elizabeth Williamson and Ingrid Winship, The University of Melbourne; Ingrid Winship, Royal Melbourne Hospital; Elizabeth Williamson, Monash University, Melbourne; Mary-Anne Young and Michael Jefford, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne; Sandra Ieropoli, Early in Life Mental Health Service, Monash Health Mental Health Program, Clayton, Victoria; Bettina Meiser, Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney; and Jessica Duffy, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Elizabeth
E
Williamson
Victoria M. White, Ashley Farrelly, and Michael Jefford, Cancer Council Victoria; Elizabeth Williamson and Ingrid Winship, The University of Melbourne; Ingrid Winship, Royal Melbourne Hospital; Elizabeth Williamson, Monash University, Melbourne; Mary-Anne Young and Michael Jefford, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne; Sandra Ieropoli, Early in Life Mental Health Service, Monash Health Mental Health Program, Clayton, Victoria; Bettina Meiser, Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney; and Jessica Duffy, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Sandra
S
Ieropoli
Victoria M. White, Ashley Farrelly, and Michael Jefford, Cancer Council Victoria; Elizabeth Williamson and Ingrid Winship, The University of Melbourne; Ingrid Winship, Royal Melbourne Hospital; Elizabeth Williamson, Monash University, Melbourne; Mary-Anne Young and Michael Jefford, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne; Sandra Ieropoli, Early in Life Mental Health Service, Monash Health Mental Health Program, Clayton, Victoria; Bettina Meiser, Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney; and Jessica Duffy, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Jessica
J
Duffy
Victoria M. White, Ashley Farrelly, and Michael Jefford, Cancer Council Victoria; Elizabeth Williamson and Ingrid Winship, The University of Melbourne; Ingrid Winship, Royal Melbourne Hospital; Elizabeth Williamson, Monash University, Melbourne; Mary-Anne Young and Michael Jefford, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne; Sandra Ieropoli, Early in Life Mental Health Service, Monash Health Mental Health Program, Clayton, Victoria; Bettina Meiser, Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney; and Jessica Duffy, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Ingrid
I
Winship
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010379:Peer Group; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013689:Telephone