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Barriers and facilitators to implementing an online psychological intervention for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors in a community setting

Irestorm, Elin LU orcid ; Wakefield, Claire E ; Houweling, Rachel ; Hetherington, Kate ; McGill, Brittany C ; McDonald, Fiona E J ; Cohn, Richard J and Sansom-Daly, Ursula M (2026) In Supportive Care in Cancer 34(7). p.1-11
Abstract

PURPOSE: To respond to the psychological needs of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors, we developed and evaluated a theoretically grounded online intervention to teach adaptive coping skills to promote resilience in early survivorship: 'Recapture Life'. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate the process of implementing Recapture Life into community organisations, after having been initially developed in an academic setting.

METHODS: The study duration was 2017-2022. Eighteen community staff members were interviewed before the implementation (T0) and nine of them after the implementation (T1). A qualitative data process evaluation using the Proctor model for implementation was completed. Interviews were thematically... (More)

PURPOSE: To respond to the psychological needs of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors, we developed and evaluated a theoretically grounded online intervention to teach adaptive coping skills to promote resilience in early survivorship: 'Recapture Life'. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate the process of implementing Recapture Life into community organisations, after having been initially developed in an academic setting.

METHODS: The study duration was 2017-2022. Eighteen community staff members were interviewed before the implementation (T0) and nine of them after the implementation (T1). A qualitative data process evaluation using the Proctor model for implementation was completed. Interviews were thematically analysed and mapped to four key domains: acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, and sustainability.

RESULTS: Major facilitators included the training provided to staff before implementation, support from the community organisation, and the culture within the organisation, as well as the communication between the university/hospital and the community organisation/s. Major barriers included staff turnover and recruitment of participants. Most, but not all, of the potential barriers and facilitators mentioned at T0 were confirmed at T1. The COVID-19 pandemic was considered both a barrier and a facilitator. Additionally, this category did not fit into the Proctor framework, as it cut across all outcomes.

CONCLUSION: We identified several processes critical to supporting the success of an AYA cancer intervention delivery. This study highlights the potential for psychological programs to be delivered online by skilled and well-trained psychosocial staff in community and not-for-profit settings. Trial registration The study was registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN126240013995830) November 26th, 2024 (retrospectively registered).

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Supportive Care in Cancer
volume
34
issue
7
article number
627
pages
1 - 11
publisher
Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
external identifiers
  • scopus:105040999746
  • pmid:42257914
ISSN
0941-4355
DOI
10.1007/s00520-026-10867-9
project
Recapture Life
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2026. The Author(s).
id
db7f5ff0-8d69-4a86-b37a-040b97f6fd13
date added to LUP
2026-06-13 08:51:00
date last changed
2026-09-07 16:24:19
@article{db7f5ff0-8d69-4a86-b37a-040b97f6fd13,
  abstract     = {{<p>PURPOSE: To respond to the psychological needs of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors, we developed and evaluated a theoretically grounded online intervention to teach adaptive coping skills to promote resilience in early survivorship: 'Recapture Life'. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate the process of implementing Recapture Life into community organisations, after having been initially developed in an academic setting.</p><p>METHODS: The study duration was 2017-2022. Eighteen community staff members were interviewed before the implementation (T0) and nine of them after the implementation (T1). A qualitative data process evaluation using the Proctor model for implementation was completed. Interviews were thematically analysed and mapped to four key domains: acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, and sustainability.</p><p>RESULTS: Major facilitators included the training provided to staff before implementation, support from the community organisation, and the culture within the organisation, as well as the communication between the university/hospital and the community organisation/s. Major barriers included staff turnover and recruitment of participants. Most, but not all, of the potential barriers and facilitators mentioned at T0 were confirmed at T1. The COVID-19 pandemic was considered both a barrier and a facilitator. Additionally, this category did not fit into the Proctor framework, as it cut across all outcomes.</p><p>CONCLUSION: We identified several processes critical to supporting the success of an AYA cancer intervention delivery. This study highlights the potential for psychological programs to be delivered online by skilled and well-trained psychosocial staff in community and not-for-profit settings. Trial registration The study was registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN126240013995830) November 26th, 2024 (retrospectively registered).</p>}},
  author       = {{Irestorm, Elin and Wakefield, Claire E and Houweling, Rachel and Hetherington, Kate and McGill, Brittany C and McDonald, Fiona E J and Cohn, Richard J and Sansom-Daly, Ursula M}},
  issn         = {{0941-4355}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{1--11}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
  series       = {{Supportive Care in Cancer}},
  title        = {{Barriers and facilitators to implementing an online psychological intervention for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors in a community setting}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-10867-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00520-026-10867-9}},
  volume       = {{34}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}