The ‘Young Adult Taking Action’ programme for young adult cancer survivors: A study protocol for a feasibility study

Abstract

Background

Young adult cancer survivors (YACS) aged 18–39 report age-specific multifactorial challenges with self-care, leisure, work and education requiring multicomponent rehabilitation intervention. Therefore, the ‘Young Adult Taking Action’ (YATAC) programme was developed.

Aims/Objectives

To present a protocol for a feasibility study evaluating the acceptability of the YATAC programme and exploring implementation, mechanisms of impact and outcomes.

Material and methods

A mixed-method feasibility study with a convergent research design will be conducted. The programme is an age-specific, multicomponent, goal-oriented, and peer-based rehabilitation programme delivered by an interdisciplinary staff consisting of nine components: 1) Goal setting, 2) Everyday life, 3) Physical activity, 4) Psychological issues, 5) Work and study, 6) Sexuality and relationship, 7) Rights and finance, 8) Peer-to-peer support and 9) Individual consultation. Quantitative and qualitative data about acceptability, implementation, mechanisms of impact and outcomes will be collected.

Results

The results will provide essential knowledge about the programme’s acceptability, implementation, mechanisms of impact and outcomes.

Conclusion and significance

The study will inform adjustment of the programme and will provide knowledge of whether and how to deliver age-specific rehabilitation to YACS.

Keywords:

• Age-specific
• complex interventions
• everyday life
• health-related quality of life
• rehabilitation

Acknowledgements

The authors gratitude the young adult cancer survivors participating in the study and generously shared their valuable perspectives. We also would like to express our appreciation to the professionals who delivered the programme. A special thanks to Dorthe Søsted Jørgensen for her role as the programme’s clinical coordinator. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge Birthe Kargaard Jensen, Christina Wendelboe, Christina Strandsberg, Signe Hulsbæk, Tina Broby Mikkelsen, Jens-Jakob Kjer Møller and Anne Karlsson, who assisted with participant recruitment and data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study is funded by a PhD scholarship from the Region of Southern Denmark [19/37135], a faculty scholarship from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Southern Denmark and REHPA, which receives financial support from the Danish Government.