Adolescent and Young Adult Psychosocial Care
Guideline Update with COSA
Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer have emotional and social support needs, called psychosocial needs.
Because of their age and stage of development, the psychosocial needs of AYAs can be quite different to the support needs of people diagnosed with cancer at other times of life. It is important that the psychosocial needs of AYAs are taken into consideration from diagnosis, through treatment, and into survivorship. If an AYA has a cancer that cannot be cured, it is important that their psychosocial needs at end-of-life are given special attention.
What did this study aim to achieve?
Our study aimed to update guidelines for the psychosocial care for AYAs with cancer, that were originally published in 2012. We wanted to bring together the best and most recent evidence from research studies around the world, to inform guidelines for Australian healthcare professionals who work with AYAs with cancer.
How was this study supported?
This study was supported with funding facilitated by Canteen, as part of the Youth Cancer Services program funded by the Australian Government. The study was carried out by COSA (Clinical Oncology Society of Australia), the BSU, and lots of experts who work with AYAs with cancer in Australia.
What did we do?
We searched thousands of research papers and found hundreds of research reviews about AYA psychosocial support needs and care. We sent these papers to groups of experts and then as a team, we wrote new guidelines for AYA psychosocial care, based on the evidence we had found. The updated guidelines have recommendations to help healthcare professionals and health services meet the psychosocial needs of AYAs with cancer.
What will we do?
We will publish the new updated guidelines online, so that all healthcare professionals as well as AYAs and their caregivers can access them. We will also talk about our recommendations to support AYA psychosocial care at conferences and in new research papers.
Additional information
Please contact Dr Rachel Houweling at r.houweling@unsw.edu.au if you have any questions about the study.
