Nuevo Amanecer‐II: Results of a randomized controlled trial of a community‐based participatory, peer‐delivered stress management intervention for rural Latina breast cancer survivors

OBJECTIVE: We report results of a community‐based multisite, randomized controlled trial of Nuevo Amanecer (NA‐II), a 10‐week stress management program for rural, low literacy Latina breast cancer survivors. METHODS: Trained peers delivered NA‐II to Spanish‐speaking Latinas with non‐metastatic breast cancer in three rural communities. Women were randomized to receive the program immediately or wait 6 months. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Primary outcomes were breast cancer‐specific quality of life domains; secondary outcomes included general distress symptoms and stress management skills. Intention‐to‐treat analyses using repeated‐measures linear regression models estimated changes in slope between groups. RESULTS: Of 153 participants (76 randomized to intervention, 77 to control group), 92% were retained at 6 months. Mean age was 54.8 years (SD = 10.5); 80% had less than high school education. There were no statistically significant treatment × time effects on quality of life. Compared to women in the control group, intervention group women reported greater improvements in anxiety at 6 months (−0.20 vs −0.02, P = .049; range 0‐4) as well as three stress management skills: relaxation at 3 months (+0.98 vs −0.07, P < .0001; range 0‐4) and 6 months (+0.82 vs +0.04, P < .001), awareness of tension at 3 months (+0.31 vs −0.19, P < .01; range 0‐4) and 6 months (+0.29 vs −0.11, P < .05), and coping confidence at 3 months (+0.12 vs −0.23, P < .01; range 0‐4). CONCLUSIONS: Stress management programs delivered by trained peers in rural community settings can reduce anxiety and improve stress management skills among Latina breast cancer survivors.