Experiences of Counselling for Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Study of the Experiences of Counselling for Teenage and Young Adult Cancer (TYAC) Patients.
IRAS ID
277430
Contact name
Helen Hatcher
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hosptials and the University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 28 days
Research summary
Distinct from paediatric and adult haematology and oncology, Teenage and Young Adult Cancer (TYAC) encompasses patients between the ages of 16 and 24 with a cancer diagnosis. Broadly speaking, TYACs can be classified as either, ‘late paediatric’, ‘early onset adult cancers’ and cases of TYA cancer1. It is widely accepted that during adolescence and young adulthood a cancer diagnosis will have profoundly disrupted the normal developmental trajectory and is, therefore, likely to lead to specific effects that often only develop well into survivorship2. These ‘late effects’ are both physical and psychosocial.
In recognition of the psychological burden of cancer Cambridge University Hospitals, along with many other principal treatment centres, offer a free counselling service to TYA patients in order to help process their experience and navigate their feelings. However, not all will accept this support and out of those who take it up, some will find the experience more helpful than others. This study looks to explore in depth the experiences of TYAs in relation to an offer of counselling. It seeks to understand the lived experiences of young people by interpreting the narrative of their unique emotional experiences. It is hoped that valuable insights will be gained into the internal and external influences on help seeking/accepting behaviour and the meanings attached specifically to an offer of counselling. An understanding of the emotional themes of living with and beyond cancer, and the ways in which young people process their experience and express their inner and outer worlds is hoped to be gained. This study can offer a lens by which to deepen our understanding of the TYA cancer experience and how counselling services may be adapted to meet the physical, social, communication and emotional needs of this unique group of young people.
Participants of the study will undergo a semi-structured interview with broad questions relating to their experiences of being offered counselling. Interviews will be audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a framework of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis as described by Smith et al (2005) 3. Participants will also be invited to create images (Warr et al, 2016)4 to support the expression and generation of their narratives should they wish to. Images will be explored as part of the interviews and included in the final analysis. A selection of visual art materials including paints, pens and pastels will be provided to facilitate this process.
The study population will be recruited via invitations from attendees of a TYAC clinic between the proposed study dates (December 2019 –April 2020). The study will interview patients who have received an offer of counselling from the TYA service at CUH.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EE/0033
Date of REC Opinion
11 Mar 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion