TY - JOUR
T1 - Recapturing life
T2 - virtual peer-based psychological support for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors delivered in the community
AU - Irestorm, Elin
AU - Wakefield, Claire E.
AU - Hetherington, Kate
AU - McGill, Brittany C.
AU - Evans, Holly E.
AU - McDonald, Fiona
AU - Patterson, Pandora
AU - Beattie, Annette
AU - Cohn, Richard J.
AU - Sansom-Daly, Ursula M.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - adolescent
KW - cancer
KW - cognitive behavioral therapy
KW - internet-based intervention
KW - young adult
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105013118228&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://go.openathens.net/redirector/westernsydney.edu.au?url=https://doi.org/10.1177/21565333251369689
U2 - 10.1177/21565333251369689
DO - 10.1177/21565333251369689
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105013118228
SN - 2156-5333
JO - Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology
JF - Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology
ER -
