Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-xtgtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T18:33:14.851Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Unmet needs among adolescent cancer patients: A pilot study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2007

SUSAN PALMER ,
ANNE MITCHELL ,
KATE THOMPSON  and
MAREE SEXTON
SUSAN PALMER
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victoria, Australia
ANNE MITCHELL
Affiliation:
Wellington Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand
KATE THOMPSON
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victoria, Australia
MAREE SEXTON
Affiliation:
Peninsula Women Health, Victoria, Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective: Adolescents with cancer pose a unique challenge to current health systems and the professional working with them. Throughout the world, it is increasingly recognized that the needs of this particular group of patients may not be met through existing services within either the pediatric or adult systems. In Australia, this is a new area of research, and little is known about the unmet physical, psychological, and social needs of this patient group. This study reports the outcomes of a focus group conducted to explore these issues.

Methods: Six young people, with a mean age at diagnosis of 17 years and 6 months, participated in a 2-h focus group. A qualitative analytic approach was utilized to examine themes.

Results: The participants identified a number of concerns relating to three broad categories: information provision, treatment processes, and survivorship.

Significance of results: The research findings support previously documented evidence that indicate gaps in cancer services provided to this age group. Importantly, these gaps can be narrowed by improving access to adolescent multidisciplinary teams and introducing specific training for health care professionals.

Keywords

AdolescenceCancerOncology
Type
Research Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , June 2007 , pp. 127 - 134
Copyright
© 2007 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bleyer, A. (2002). Older adolescents with cancer in North America: Deficits in outcome and research. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 49, 1027–1042.Google Scholar
Coleman, J. & Hendry, L. (1990). The Nature of Adolescence, 2nd ed. New York: Routledge.
Craig, F. (2006). Adolescents and Young Adults. In Oxford Textbook of Palliative Care for Children, Goldman, A., Hain, R. & Liben, S. (eds.), pp. 108–118. New York: Oxford University Press.
Dixon, R. & Lerner, R. (1992). A history of systems in developmental psychology. In M. Bornstein & M. Lamb (Eds.). Developmental Psychology: An advanced textbook (3rd ed.). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates (pp. 3–45).
Dunsmore, J. & Quine, S. (1995). Information, support and decision-making needs and preferences of adolescents with cancer: Implications for health professionals. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 13, 39–56.Google Scholar
Erikson, E. (1968). Identity: Youth and Crisis. London: Faber & Faber.
Geldard, K. & Geldard, D. (1999). Counselling Adolescents: A Pro-Active Approach. London: SAGE Publications.
Giles, G. & Thursfield, V. (eds.) (2003). Canstat: Cancer in Victoria in 2001. Melbourne: The Cancer Council Victoria Epidemiology Centre.
Havighurst, R. (1972). Developmental Tasks and Education, 3rd ed. New York: David McKay Co.
Hokkanen, H., Eriksson, E., Ahonen, O., et al. (2004). Adolescents with cancer. Cancer Nursing, 27, 325–335.Google Scholar
Hollis, R. & Morgan, S. (2001). The adolescent with cancer—At the edge of no-man's land. The Lancet Oncology, 2, 43–48.Google Scholar
Ishibashi, A. (2001). The needs of children and adolescents with cancer for information and social support. Cancer Nursing, 24, 61–67.Google Scholar
Kwon, J. & Case, A. (2002). Effects of cancer treatment on reproduction and fertility. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 24, 619–627.Google Scholar
Liamputtong, P. & Ezzy, D. (2005). Qualitative Research Methods, 2nd ed. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Mitchell, A., Scarcella, D., Rigutto, G., et al. (2004). Cancer in adolescents and young adults: Treatment and outcome in Victoria. Medical Journal of Australia, 180, 59–62.Google Scholar
Morse, J. & Field, P. (1995). Qualitative Research Methods for Health Professionals, 2nd ed. London: SAGE Publications.
Mulhall, A., Kelly, D., & Pearce, S. (2004). A qualitative evaluation of an adolescent cancer unit. European Journal of Cancer Care, 13, 16–22.Google Scholar
National Health and Medical Research Council. (2003). Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Psychosocial Care of Adults with Cancer. Australia: NHMRC.
Palmer, S. (2006). Understanding the Causation, Expression, and Course of Adolescent Posttraumatic Stress within a Developmental Framework and Developing a Screening Tool to Identify the Adolescent Specific Manifestations of Posttraumatic Stress. Unpublished dissertation. University of Melbourne.
Smith, S. (2004). Adolescent units—An evidence-based approach to quality nursing in adolescent care. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 8, 20–29.Google Scholar
Thomas, D., Seymour, J., O'Brien, T., Sawyer, S., & Ashley, D. (2006). Adolescent and young adult cancer: A revolution in evolution? Internal Medicine Journal, 36, 302–307.Google Scholar
Whyte, F. & Smith, L. (1997). A literature review of adolescence and cancer. European Journal of Cancer Care, 6, 137–146.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, J. (2003). Young people with cancer—How should their care be organized? European Journal of Cancer Care, 12, 65–70.Google Scholar