The Lifestyle Information and Intervention Preferences of Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study.
Gemma Pugh, Rachael Hough, Helen Gravestock and 3 others
PMID 28622193WHAT IT FOUND
Young cancer survivors said diagnosis made them want lifestyle advice, but treatment effects, weight changes, low confidence and vague professional advice were barriers.
They wanted concise, age-appropriate, trustworthy information online and face-to-face, when ready.
Key findings
01Young cancer survivors said their diagnosis was the main reason for seeking lifestyle information and for wanting healthier behaviour.
02They reported barriers including treatment-related physical changes and vague or absent lifestyle advice from health professionals.
03They wanted concise, age-appropriate information in multiple formats, including online and counselling.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Only 13 young people responded after 93 had indicated interest, and only 10 took part in interviews plus 3 in a focus group. The participants were likely already interested in lifestyle information, so their views may not represent less engaged survivors. A focus group may have made some people less willing to share personal experiences. No consensus was reached on the best time to give lifestyle information. This was a qualitative study of preferences, not a test of whether a lifestyle intervention works.
Declared interests
CLIC Sargent, a cancer charity, is named as a project cofunder and partner in the focus group; no other funding or conflict declaration is provided in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these preferences as evidence that giving lifestyle information will improve health or sustain behaviour change. This study only asked a small group of survivors what they wanted and did not test an intervention.