Disease self-management needs of adolescents with cancer: perspectives of adolescents with cancer and their parents and healthcare providers

Purpose The ability for adolescents with cancer (AWC) to engage in disease self-management may result in improved cancer outcomes and quality-of-life ratings for this group. Despite this, a comprehensive self-management program for this group is yet to be developed. To ensure that self-management programming developed for AWC meets the needs of this group, discussion with key stakeholders (i.e., AWC, parents, and healthcare providers) is required. Methods A descriptive qualitative design was used. Adolescents ( n = 29) who varied in age (12 to 18 years) and type of cancer, their parents ( n = 30) and their healthcare providers ( n = 22) were recruited from one large tertiary-care oncology center. Audio-taped semi-structured individual and focus-group interviews were conducted with participants. Transcribed data were organized into categories that reflected emerging themes. Results Four major themes, which captured the self-management needs of AWC, emerged from the data. These themes were: (1) disease knowledge and cancer care skills, (2) knowledge and skills to support effective transition to adult healthcare, (3) delivery of AWC-accessible healthcare services, and (4) supports for the adolescent with cancer. Conclusions In order to provide comprehensive, relevant, and acceptable self-management programs to AWC, the voices of this population, their parents, and healthcare providers should be considered. Findings from this study will be used to develop and evaluate cancer self-management programming for AWC. Implications for cancer survivors Self-management represents an important avenue for exploration into improving cancer outcomes and quality of life for survivors of cancers during adolescence.