Through our eyes: A photovoice intervention for adolescents on active cancer treatment

Abstract

Research Approach: Photovoice, a participatory action research methodology, is a novel and promising intervention for adolescents with cancer. Photovoice was used as an intervention for eliciting and addressing the psychosocial needs of adolescents on active cancer treatment.

Participants: Six adolescents, aged thirteen to seventeen years old, who were on active treatment or had completed treatment in the three months prior to recruitment participated in a seven-week photovoice group that took place from March to May 2017.

Methodological Approach: Each of the seven sessions was recorded and later transcribed. A content analysis was used to identify themes that were analyzed using an integrated framework developed earlier. The framework broadly categorized the themes into six domains: (i) physical changes, (ii) psychosocial impacts, (iii) short-term social impacts, (iv) long-term social impacts, (v) impacts on holistic well-being, and (vi) informational needs.

Interpretation: Photovoice is an effective intervention for eliciting and addressing the psychosocial needs of adolescents on active cancer treatment.

Keywords:

• active cancer treatment
• intervention
• participatory action research
• photovoice
• psychosocial
• social work

Note

Acknowledgments

Authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the teenagers with whom they were so privileged to work with. Their candidness in sharing their journeys with them was awe-inspiring. Authors thank Jennifer Mingori who ran the concurrent parent group. The research team would like to acknowledge the Garron Family Cancer Centre who generously funded the Photovoice group and exhibition.

Authors acknowledge that MN and GG were funded by grants from the Garron Family Cancer Centre Nursing and Allied Health Summer Student Program at the Hospital for Sick Children

Disclosure statement

The research team and authors have no competing financial interests or other conflicts of interest.

Notes

a Paediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, 2016.