Abstract 4025: Improving collaboration and well-being among patient advocates: lessons from Escape to THRIVE

Abstract Background: Patient advocates play a crucial role in supporting individuals with cancer, but advocates often face challenges related to collaboration, work-life balance, and burnout. Professional development opportunities, such as conferences, may help address these challenges, yet limited research exists on their long-term impact on patient advocates. Purpose: To evaluate changes in patient advocates' practices in three areas: 1) collaboration with other advocates, 2) work-life balance, and 3) self-care following participation in Escape to THRIVE, a leadership conference. Methods: Patient advocates attending the Escape to THRIVE conference in three different years (2020 (n=27), 2023 (n=21), and 2024 (n= 25)) were surveyed at three time points: pre-conference, immediately post-conference, and six or more months post-conference. Questions focused on collaboration with other advocates, workload management, and self-care behaviors. Responses were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Results: Following conference participation, advocates demonstrated meaningful changes in collaboration and personal well-being management. A trend toward increased collaboration, with advocates more frequently partnering with those supporting patients with different cancer types. Participating advocates also reported improved workload management and self-care behaviors. Conclusion: Results suggest that targeted professional development at conferences can effectively promote positive changes in patient advocates' collaborative behaviors and personal well-being management practices, with benefits sustained over time. These findings support the value of professional development opportunities for patient advocates that promote professional collaboration and personal well-being management. Citation Format: Sherri Romanoski, Mindy Griffith, Brandi Forbes, Lisa Rezende. Improving collaboration and well-being among patient advocates: lessons from Escape to THRIVE [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 4025.