Abstract

The study aimed to explore the experiences of support from people with the same illness among breast cancer survivors and their expectations and needs regarding peer support services for alleviating distress. The participants consisted of 10 women aged 19 or older who were undergoing or had completed breast cancer surgery or adjuvant therapy(chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy) within the last 5 years. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) was employed for data analysis. The analysis yielded two domains, six categories, and 17 subcategories. These two domains were categorized as ‘Support from people with the same illness’ and ‘Expectations and needs for Peer Support Services’. The categories within each domain included ‘Emotional Support’, ‘Information Provision’ in the domain of Support from people with the same illness, ‘Types of Peer Support Services’, ‘Qualifications and Competencies of Peer Support Providers’, ‘Benefits of Engaging in Peer Support Activities’, ‘Timing of Need for Peer Support’ in the domain of expectations and needs for peer support services. The results of this study can be utilized as foundational data for the development of peer support services for breast cancer survivors and for training peer support providers.