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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.