Unmet needs in adolescents and young adults with cancer: A mixed-method study using social media

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify and compare the unmet needs of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer by age and gender. Design and methodsThis is a mixed-methods study to analyze textual data from blog posts on AYAs' unmet needs. Themes were identified using a qualitative descriptive method with content analysis, and a quantitative method was used to compare themes by age and gender. ResultsThe findings from blog posts of 100 AYAs showed that AYAs with cancer expressed somewhat different needs by age and gender. Young adults (26–39 years) with cancer tended to describe significantly more feelings of fear (p = .043) and parenting needs (p < .001) and significantly fewer educational needs (p < .001) than did emerging adults (18–25 years) with cancer. Female AYAs with cancer described significantly more feelings of guilt (p = .020), sexual needs (p = .003), fertility issues (p = .023), and social needs (p = .013) than did male AYAs with cancer. There were no statistically significant differences in the remaining themes between age and gender groups, although how they described unmet needs differed qualitatively. ConclusionsAYAs with cancer have various unmet needs and their unmet needs were different by age and gender. Practice implicationsNurses should proactively provide integrated systematic screening by offering a safe, non-judgmental environment to encourage AYAs to express their needs across their cancer journey. Nurses also should respond with developmentally appropriate support, resources, and referrals based on these expressed needs.