Abstract
This report presents the work of a research team led by Dr Karen Galway, Lecturer in Mental Health from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen’s University Belfast, in collaboration with Cancer Fund for Children (CFC) and Ulster University. The aim of this report was two-fold. Firstly, to review the evidence for supportive or psychosocial work with Children Adolescents and Young Adults (CAYAs), and their families by asking what works, for whom and in what format? The second aim was to map the evidence of what works, to the features and characteristics of the supportive work underway at CFC.
The report reviews 20+ years of international research on the benefits of psychosocial supportive services for children and young people with cancer. The evidence was categorised and mapped onto the features of hospital, community and residential support services provided by CFC. Across six discreet services provided by CFC, the collaborative team pinpointed features of CFC’s services that match those in the published literature that provide positive coping and adjustment. The most robust international evidence suggests therapeutic ‘camps’ and short breaks, coping skills programmes and informal time and space for peer support can improve family communications and help young people with cancer make transitions back to school and into survivorship.
The mapping indicates that the NI based charity is working at the cutting-edge of the evidence base and also pioneering new and innovative support for children and young people with cancer. The report concludes with recommendations on how to move forward, to fill gaps in the evidence base and to extend our collaboration to the global community, working to improve services for families experiencing cancer.
The report reviews 20+ years of international research on the benefits of psychosocial supportive services for children and young people with cancer. The evidence was categorised and mapped onto the features of hospital, community and residential support services provided by CFC. Across six discreet services provided by CFC, the collaborative team pinpointed features of CFC’s services that match those in the published literature that provide positive coping and adjustment. The most robust international evidence suggests therapeutic ‘camps’ and short breaks, coping skills programmes and informal time and space for peer support can improve family communications and help young people with cancer make transitions back to school and into survivorship.
The mapping indicates that the NI based charity is working at the cutting-edge of the evidence base and also pioneering new and innovative support for children and young people with cancer. The report concludes with recommendations on how to move forward, to fill gaps in the evidence base and to extend our collaboration to the global community, working to improve services for families experiencing cancer.
Original language | English |
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Place of Publication | Belfast |
Publisher | Cancer Fund for Children |
Commissioning body | Cancer Fund for Children |
Number of pages | 49 |
Publication status | Published - 04 Jun 2019 |
Event | Launch of Report: Launch of literature review and mapping of supportive services for children and young adults experiencing cancer - Daisy Lodge, Cancer Fund for Children, 124 Bryansford Rd, Newcastle BT33 0PP, Newcastle, Co Down, United Kingdom Duration: 04 Jun 2019 → 04 Jun 2019 |
Keywords
- Children
- Cancer
- Psychooncology
- Young people
- Adolescent
- Support
- Review