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Recapturing Life: Virtual Peer-Based Psychological Support for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors Delivered
Elin Irestorm1,2, Claire E Wakefield1,3, Kate Hetherington1,3
1Behavioural Sciences Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, UNSW Medicine and Health, UNSW, Randwick, Australia.
Purpose:
Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors have unique psychological needs and require tailored support, as they transition from hospital settings following cancer treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of the online "Recapture Life" program to improve AYA aged survivors' psychological adjustment in early cancer survivorship.
Methods:
The intervention was delivered in community settings, by trained psychosocial staff at partnering cancer-support organizations. The participants received seven cognitive behavioral therapy-based online sessions six weekly 90-minute group sessions and a booster session. A pre-post design was used, where participants completed patient-reported outcome measures at intake, and 6 months after intervention completion. Measures assessed psychological distress, cancer-related problems, peer support, and program benefit/burden.
Results:
Thirty 13-39-year-olds with mixed cancer diagnoses (mean time since diagnosis 2.9 years) completed both assessments. We did not find evidence that the intervention reduced psychological distress. However, 6 months after completing Recapture Life, AYAs reported fewer cancer-related problems (t(29) = 2.63, p = 0.003) and improved peer support (t(29) = 8.04, p = 0.015), with medium effect sizes. Most participants reported no program burden (72%) and found Recapture Life at least somewhat beneficial (79%). Most (73%) reported staying in contact with AYAs from their group post-intervention.
Conclusion:
Six months after completing Recapture Life, AYAs reported having more peer support and fewer cancer-related problems. This study addresses a well-documented gap in psychological services tailored to AYA survivors' needs. Recapture Life delivered in the community addressed areas of concern for the AYAs and may teach adaptive skills for survivors adjusting to life after cancer treatment.
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