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Recapturing Life : Virtual Peer-Based Psychological Support for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors Delivered in the Community

Irestorm, Elin LU orcid ; Wakefield, Claire E ; Hetherington, Kate ; McGill, Brittany C ; Evans, Holly E ; McDonald, Fiona ; Patterson, Pandora ; Beattie, Annette ; Cohn, Richard J and Sansom-Daly, Ursula M (2025) In Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology
Abstract

Purpose: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors have unique psychological needs and require tailored support, as they transition from hospital settings following cancer treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of the online "Recapture Life" program to improve AYA aged survivors' psychological adjustment in early cancer survivorship. Methods: The intervention was delivered in community settings, by trained psychosocial staff at partnering cancer-support organizations. The participants received seven cognitive behavioral therapy-based online sessions six weekly 90-minute group sessions and a booster session. A pre-post design was used, where participants completed patient-reported outcome... (More)

Purpose: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors have unique psychological needs and require tailored support, as they transition from hospital settings following cancer treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of the online "Recapture Life" program to improve AYA aged survivors' psychological adjustment in early cancer survivorship. Methods: The intervention was delivered in community settings, by trained psychosocial staff at partnering cancer-support organizations. The participants received seven cognitive behavioral therapy-based online sessions six weekly 90-minute group sessions and a booster session. A pre-post design was used, where participants completed patient-reported outcome measures at intake, and 6 months after intervention completion. Measures assessed psychological distress, cancer-related problems, peer support, and program benefit/burden. Results: Thirty 13-39-year-olds with mixed cancer diagnoses (mean time since diagnosis 2.9 years) completed both assessments. We did not find evidence that the intervention reduced psychological distress. However, 6 months after completing Recapture Life, AYAs reported fewer cancer-related problems (t(29) = 2.63, p = 0.003) and improved peer support (t(29) = 8.04, p = 0.015), with medium effect sizes. Most participants reported no program burden (72%) and found Recapture Life at least somewhat beneficial (79%). Most (73%) reported staying in contact with AYAs from their group post-intervention. Conclusion: Six months after completing Recapture Life, AYAs reported having more peer support and fewer cancer-related problems. This study addresses a well-documented gap in psychological services tailored to AYA survivors' needs. Recapture Life delivered in the community addressed areas of concern for the AYAs and may teach adaptive skills for survivors adjusting to life after cancer treatment.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology
publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
external identifiers
  • pmid:40794486
ISSN
2156-5333
DOI
10.1177/21565333251369689
project
Recapture Life
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2d1a140d-8245-4c59-b278-a7a7fe3ff95e
date added to LUP
2025-08-15 06:45:29
date last changed
2025-08-15 08:32:03
@article{2d1a140d-8245-4c59-b278-a7a7fe3ff95e,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors have unique psychological needs and require tailored support, as they transition from hospital settings following cancer treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of the online "Recapture Life" program to improve AYA aged survivors' psychological adjustment in early cancer survivorship. Methods: The intervention was delivered in community settings, by trained psychosocial staff at partnering cancer-support organizations. The participants received seven cognitive behavioral therapy-based online sessions six weekly 90-minute group sessions and a booster session. A pre-post design was used, where participants completed patient-reported outcome measures at intake, and 6 months after intervention completion. Measures assessed psychological distress, cancer-related problems, peer support, and program benefit/burden. Results: Thirty 13-39-year-olds with mixed cancer diagnoses (mean time since diagnosis 2.9 years) completed both assessments. We did not find evidence that the intervention reduced psychological distress. However, 6 months after completing Recapture Life, AYAs reported fewer cancer-related problems (t(29) = 2.63, p = 0.003) and improved peer support (t(29) = 8.04, p = 0.015), with medium effect sizes. Most participants reported no program burden (72%) and found Recapture Life at least somewhat beneficial (79%). Most (73%) reported staying in contact with AYAs from their group post-intervention. Conclusion: Six months after completing Recapture Life, AYAs reported having more peer support and fewer cancer-related problems. This study addresses a well-documented gap in psychological services tailored to AYA survivors' needs. Recapture Life delivered in the community addressed areas of concern for the AYAs and may teach adaptive skills for survivors adjusting to life after cancer treatment.</p>}},
  author       = {{Irestorm, Elin and Wakefield, Claire E and Hetherington, Kate and McGill, Brittany C and Evans, Holly E and McDonald, Fiona and Patterson, Pandora and Beattie, Annette and Cohn, Richard J and Sansom-Daly, Ursula M}},
  issn         = {{2156-5333}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  publisher    = {{Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.}},
  series       = {{Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology}},
  title        = {{Recapturing Life : Virtual Peer-Based Psychological Support for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors Delivered in the Community}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/21565333251369689}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/21565333251369689}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}