CanTeen, Australian Organisation for Young People Living With Cancer, Sydney, Australia.
Cancer Nurs. 2012 May-Jun;35(3):E32-40. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0b013e31822d9105.
Emerging adulthood is the life stage between adolescence and young adulthood, and it has been associated with several important developmental milestones. A cancer diagnosis has the potential to disrupt the normal achievement of these milestones. Many psychosocial themes relevant to emerging adults living with cancer have been identified, but there has been only limited research into the needs of this group.
The present study seeks to contribute to this limited research base and inform our understanding of the needs of emerging adults with a diagnosis of cancer from a developmental perspective that appreciates the key transitional tasks of emerging adulthood.
This needs-based qualitative study was conducted with 14 young people with a diagnosis of cancer, aged 20 to 25 years. Nine participated in a focus group, and the remaining 5 participated in 1-on-1 telephone interviews.
The needs of these emerging adults in relation to their cancer experience were grouped into 6 themes: information, healthcare provision, daily living, interpersonal support, identity renegotiation, and emotional distress.
A cancer experience poses the potential for significant impact on the 4 main requirements for the achievement of adulthood: accepting responsibility for oneself, deciding on personal beliefs and values, establishing relationships with parents as equals, and becoming financially independent.
This study provides a useful framework for understanding the needs of emerging adults with a diagnosis of cancer that will assist healthcare professionals in the development and delivery of more targeted supportive care and interventions.
成年初显期是青春期和成年早期之间的人生阶段，它与几个重要的发展里程碑有关。癌症诊断有可能破坏这些里程碑的正常实现。许多与成年初显期癌症患者相关的重要心理社会主题已经被确定，但针对这一群体的需求的研究却很有限。
本研究旨在为这一有限的研究基础做出贡献，并从发展的角度了解成年初显期癌症患者的需求，这种发展角度认识到成年初显期的关键过渡任务。
这项基于需求的定性研究是在 14 名年龄在 20 至 25 岁之间被诊断患有癌症的年轻人中进行的。其中 9 人参加了焦点小组，其余 5 人参加了一对一的电话访谈。
这些成年初显期癌症患者的需求与他们的癌症经历相关，可分为 6 个主题：信息、医疗保健提供、日常生活、人际支持、身份重新协商和情绪困扰。
癌症经历有可能对实现成年的 4 个主要要求产生重大影响：对自己负责、决定个人信仰和价值观、与父母平等建立关系以及经济独立。
本研究为理解成年初显期癌症患者的需求提供了一个有用的框架，将有助于医疗保健专业人员制定和提供更有针对性的支持性护理和干预措施。
