Participants reported that a legacy-making intervention via digital storytelling would be feasible, acceptable, and beneficial for NICU parents. Study results support the need and desire for legacy-making services to be developed and offered in the NICU.

Little is known about the physical activity (PA) of young adults (YAs) during cancer therapy. In this feasibility study, 14 YAs (20-34 years old) completed a six-minute walk test, recorded their steps per day for one week, and answered weekly self-reports about physical activity, fatigue, sleep-wake disturbances, and depression during one cycle of chemotherapy. Findings suggest YAs are willing to complete a PA study during chemotherapy and have variable sleep and activity schedules. Their symptoms varied in severity, with highest scores for fatigue. Studies to improve PA in YAs during chemotherapy are warranted to manage short-and long-term treatment effects.Keywords: cancer care continuum, chemotherapy, exercise, physical activity, supportive care P hysical activity (PA) during treatment for cancer is an evidence-based intervention recommended to relieve disease-and treatment-related symptoms such as fatigue and sleep disturbances.1-3 Maintaining PA during cancer treatment may also mitigate the long-term negative effects of inactivity, such as deconditioning and weight gain, that often occur during and after the cancer treatment period.4,5 Staying physically active may also promote better disease outcomes for patients at high risk for developing second cancers.6 Many young adults (YAs) with cancer, however, become sedentary during their months of chemotherapy due to common physical and psychosocial symptoms, such as fatigue and depressed mood. Frequent clinic and hospital visits disrupt daily activity and sleep routines, making it difficult to maintain previously established habits and schedules.PA research to date has focused mainly on outcomes in adults with common cancers, especially following the completion of therapy, and little is known about PA in YAs with cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that adolescent cancer survivors experience significant declines in PA during treatment that may last past completion of treatment. [7][8][9] Studies are needed to describe PA in YAs during active treatment and to test PA interventions for YAs receiving chemotherapy.The aims of this study were to: (1) test the feasibility of procedures to measure four symptoms (fatigue, sleep disturbance, wake disturbance, and emotional disturbancedepression) and PA in YAs; and (2) gather feasibility data related to functional status, symptom severity, and PA over the course of one cycle of chemotherapy. These data will inform the design of a trial to test an age-specific intervention to improve symptom management, PA, and quality of life outcomes for YAs who may become long-term cancer survivors. MethodsData collection began on the first day of a chemotherapy cycle and lasted 2 weeks. This feasibility study was conducted at the University of Virginia Medical Center between November 2010 and May 2012. ParticipantsInclusion criteria included patients who: (1) were diagnosed with any cancer between the ages of 18 and 39; (2) were receiving chemotherapy on a cycle every 3-4 weeks; (3) were in their first through sixth month of chemothera...

Nurses are positioned to develop and deliver meaning-making interventions for patients undergoing HSCT and to assess patient-oriented outcomes.

Little is known about young adults with cancer at the end-of-life, but life review and legacy making may be important modalities to process the emotions associated with anticipatory grief. The study analyzed the illness blogs of five young women (aged 25-39 years) at the end-of-life using a narrative approach. Key elements of legacy making and grief processing were explored. The women had varying experiences before their death, but uniform posthumous occurrences with the use of the blog for a space of grief for loved ones. The use of online blogs among adolescents and young adults with advanced cancer is an area of needed further study.

Perceptions of people living with chronic illness change over time, contributing to health-related stress that necessitates coping skills. Paterson’s shifting perspectives model provides an explanation of chronically ill people’s variations in attention to their symptoms. In this qualitative study, 20 people with fibromyalgia living in a rural setting were interviewed in 2013 with the aim of gaining insight into their experiences and the meaning-making associated with their chronic condition. Analysis of the interview data categorized five recurrent, or common, themes: experiences of loss, feelings of fear and uncertainty, influence of stress, stigmatization of the disease, and coping through courage. Difficulties attendant to losses, distress, and stigma associated with this chronic condition led the participants to report poor health-related quality of life. The study findings can be useful across clinical settings to nurses and other health care providers in understanding those diagnosed with fibromyalgia and their care needs.