Abbey Elsbernd1, Christopher Crenner2, Tarris Rosell2, Jyoti Panicker3. 1. 1 University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas. 2. 2 Department of History and Philosophy of Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas. 3. 3 Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas.
Abstract
Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are often impacted by distress due to disease and treatment. Despite these concerns, prior research has found that AYAs do not utilize support resources, do not find these resources adequate, and or do not have adequate access to services. Objective: The objective of this project was to understand and identify AYA patient concerns and experiences throughout cancer treatment, what resources were utilized, how they were identified, and how supportive care resources for AYA cancer patients can be improved. Methods: Twenty-eight AYA cancer patients and survivors were interviewed on their experiences and utilization of supportive resources throughout cancer treatment. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis and organized through a priori framework examining specific domains of experience and resources utilized. Results: The most frequently discussed topic in qualitative interviews was the benefit of the health care team. Other frequently identified resources were generalized internet searches and webpages. Suggested unmet resource needs included supportive resources for family members and caregivers throughout the time of treatment. Conclusions: AYAs experience stress throughout treatment for cancer attributed to physical, practical, and psychosocial causes. Health care workers play a vital role in serving as an informative and supportive resource for their AYA patients. As such, health care workers and other supportive resources may alleviate these concerns, but these resources are still underexplored.
Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are often impacted by distress due to disease and treatment. Despite these concerns, prior research has found that AYAs do not utilize support resources, do not find these resources adequate, and or do not have adequate access to services. Objective: The objective of this project was to understand and identify AYA patient concerns and experiences throughout cancer treatment, what resources were utilized, how they were identified, and how supportive care resources for AYA cancerpatients can be improved. Methods: Twenty-eight AYA cancerpatients and survivors were interviewed on their experiences and utilization of supportive resources throughout cancer treatment. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis and organized through a priori framework examining specific domains of experience and resources utilized. Results: The most frequently discussed topic in qualitative interviews was the benefit of the health care team. Other frequently identified resources were generalized internet searches and webpages. Suggested unmet resource needs included supportive resources for family members and caregivers throughout the time of treatment. Conclusions: AYAs experience stress throughout treatment for cancer attributed to physical, practical, and psychosocial causes. Health care workers play a vital role in serving as an informative and supportive resource for their AYA patients. As such, health care workers and other supportive resources may alleviate these concerns, but these resources are still underexplored.
Authors: Andrea De Salvo; Maria Antonietta De Ioris; Domitilla Secco; Francesca Bevilacqua; Roberto Premuselli; Matteo Amicucci; Italo Ciaralli; Francesca Santato; Angela Mastronuzzi; Giuseppe Maria Milano Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2021-07-01 Impact factor: 6.244