THE EFFECT OF PEER-BASED SUPPORT ON HEALTHPROMOTING BEHAVIORS IN BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS IN ACADEMI HOSPITALS AND RESEARCH CENTERS IN URMIA IN 2015-16

The health promoting behaviors is an important topic in the study of chronic
diseases, especially cancer. Therefore, this study, aimed to determine the effect of peer support on
health-promoting behaviors of breast cancer patients, was conducted in 2015-16.
Materials & Methods: In this clinical trial, 140 patients with breast cancer were selected with convenice
sampling and then randomly allocated into two control and intervention groups. Six discussion sessions
were held for the intervention group by two survivors of breast cancer with the highest score in HPLPII questionnaire. Data were collected before and after the intervention, using demographic data
questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory and health-promoting lifestyle questionnaire of Walker.
Results: Collected data in the intervention and control groups, before the intervention, showed no
significant difference in overall average score of health promoting behaviors of the patients (P=0.99).
However, after the intervention, the difference between the mean score of health promoting behaviors
in two the groups was significant (P<0.001). Also the mean health promoting behaviors (intervention
group) before the intervention were 21.31±6.31 in terms of spiritual growth, 24.84±6.51 in health
responsibility, and 11.74±3.70 in terms of interpersonal relationships, 14.41±3.50 in stress management,
8.05±1.77 in Physical Activity and 13.03±3.94 in nutrition, and after the intervention the mean score of
health promoting behaviors in its dimensions (spiritual growth, health responsibility, interpersonal
relationships, stress management, Physical Activity and nutrition), respectively, had changed to
28.43±3.29, 32.90±2.87, 14.82±2.08, 21.90±4.62, 11.56±1.70, 19.41±2.10 which shows the effect of
the intervention.
Conclusion: Peer-led support increased health promoting behaviors score in breast cancer patients. It is
proposed that peer support should be used in patients with breast cancer to improve the health promoting
behaviors