Observational StudyiP2P Mentorship Program for Adolescent HF Patients

Mentee inclusion criteria:

1. patient with a cardiac diagnosis,
2. at least 4 months post-diagnosis,
3. between the ages of 12 and 17 years,
4. able to speak and read English, and
5. willingness to commit to 5-10 texts and/or calls of 20-30 minutes each with a peer mentor over a period of 15 weeks.

Mentor inclusion criteria:

1. patient with a cardiac diagnosis,
2. between the ages of 18 and 30 years,
3. able to speak and read English,
4. nominated by a member of their health care team as a good mentor based on maturity and emotional stability,
5. willingness to commit to peer mentor training (20 hours) via the PHIPA-compliant version of Zoom or Microsoft Teams and mentoring adolescent participants (once paired with mentee, 5-10 texts and/or calls of 20-30 minutes over a period of 15 weeks),
6. good communication skills (as assessed by a healthcare provider), and
7. previous experience in a professional environment (e.g., as a camp counsellor, part time job, volunteering) is an asset.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. significant cognitive impairments as assessed by a qualified healthcare provider,
2. a diagnosis of an active psychological disorder (e.g., Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder) likely to influence assessment of health-related quality of life and/or interfere with their ability to manage their heart failure care regimen (a diagnosis of an active psychological disorder will be determined for mentees through medical chart review and self-reported by mentors), and
3. participating in other peer support or self-management interventions.