Experience of Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Cancer about Self-Care Needs: A Content Analysis

Abstract

Objective:In cancer care management, patients or their family are usually responsible for continuing health care. Achieving this goal requires identification of their self-care needs. The purpose of this study is to explore the perception of self-care needs of adolescent cancer survivors.Methods:This study was conducted by the qualitative content analysis method. Participants were 19 adolescent childhood cancer survivors and six parents, nurses, physicians, and charity institution staff from children teaching hospitals in Iran. Participants were selected through purposeful sampling, and individual semistructured interviews were used for data collection. Graneheim and Lundman stages of content analysis were employed for data analysis. Data were managed with the MAXQDA10 software.Results:Content analysis revealed nine subcategories as follows: (1) nutritional protection, (2) prevention from infection, (3) prevention from physical damage, (4) control over cancer recurrence, (5) informational needs, (6) pain management, (7) releasing positive thoughts, (8) continuing routine life, and (9) family protection. The first six subthemes were related to protection against physical distress, and the final three ones were related to protection against psychological distress. These two categories form one theme: “protective self-care need” as an essential self-care need in adolescent cancer survivors.Conclusions:Pediatric and school health nurses can prepare strategies to meet these needs by providing effective informational and psychosocial supports, and healthcare providers are able to check periodically the status of survivors care to provide second or third level of care to prevent escalation and incidence of the adverse outcomes of the disease.

Needs, preferences, and experiences of adult cancer survivors in accessing dietary information post‐treatment: A scoping review

“…Participants were considered adult cancer survivors if they had lived beyond a cancer diagnosis which occurred after the age of 18 years. Studies among survivors of childhood and adolescent cancers were excluded because this population may have different needs, preferences, and experiences to people diagnosed with cancer during adulthood (Valizadeh et al, 2020). To align with survivor-centred models of survivorship care, this paper reviews the needs, preferences, and experiences that have been self-reported by cancer survivors (Cancer Australia, 2017; Clinical Oncology Society of Australia, 2016).…”

The Utility of Verbal Therapy for Pediatric Cancer Patients and Survivors: Expressive Writing, Video Narratives, and Bibliotherapy Exercises

“…Contemporary randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest that talk therapy can significantly reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, and other symptoms of psychological distress among adult cancer patients ( 31 – 33 ). Although a dearth of RCTs on talk therapy for pediatric cancer patients and survivors exists, several case vignettes ( 34 , 35 ), reports on adolescent cancer support groups ( 36 , 37 ), and studies on psychotherapy-influenced interviews ( 38 – 40 ) with this subpopulation have been conducted. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that for younger cancer patients and survivors, talking with others about their disease can help them come to terms with their cancer experience and form meaningful social bonds.…”

Percepção do Adolescente frente à sua Condição de Adoecimento Oncológico

“…O DSC revelou a importância da cura para o alcance dos planos de vida traçados por meio dela, de que seus hábitos da vida cotidiana, tomados pelo adoecimento, serão devolvidos e, assim, planos profissionais poderão ser realizados. Estudo com adolescentes que sobreviveram ao câncer encontrou dados semelhantes, o período difícil do tratamento permitiu vislumbrar um novo significado de vida e estes encaravam o período pós-tratamento como uma oportunidade para seguir uma vida normal 9 .…”

“…Na percepção do adolescente, os profissionais precisam ter empatia diante do sofrimento humano, o envolvimento na relação profissional-paciente é imprescindível para uma formação de vínculo e confiança, com intuito de ofertar cuidado e conforto não só para o adolescente, mas também para a família envolvida nesse processo 9 .…”

“…Os profissionais precisam ser sensíveis e humanizados diante do sofrimento humano, para promoção de uma assistência integral de qualidade e individualizada, considerando as necessidades do adolescente em todas as suas dimensões 9 .…”