Physical and psychosocial aspects of adolescent and young adults after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation: results from a prospective multicenter trial

Psychosocial Factors Affecting Wellbeing and Sources of Support of Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

To identify and analyze what is known about the psychosocial factors affecting the wellbeing and sources of support of young adult (YA) cancer survivors.

METHODS

The search strategy included Neoplasms, young adults, psycho* or emotional well* or mental health. The OVID Medline and CINAHL databases were searched. Included were cancer survivors (YA) ages 18-39 at the time of the study. The studies included qualitative and quantitative designs, written in English, and published between January 2016 and October 2024. The results were recorded according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies with 4992 participants found psychosocial factors to be the most important influence on life satisfaction with social support the most decisive factor. This expands the results of previous reviews by including a variety of study designs and data collection tools to provide a comprehensive understanding of the YA experience. Psychosocial concerns affecting wellbeing led to social isolation, low connectedness with family and friends, and significant distress. Consistent with previous reviews, the greatest challenges to wellbeing were psychosocial needs, which included seeking and delivering information that is easy to understand but detailed, which can decrease frustration and anger, and needs to be readily available and accessible. Unlike older adult cancer survivors, YA survivors are more likely to have reduced psychosocial functioning compared to their peers and suffer from higher distress than their adult peers and non-YA cancer survivors with anxiety as the most reported symptom.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions need to be developed that lessen the impact of a cancer diagnosis and cancer treatments. The specific needs of YAs must be further researched and evaluated to determine specific interventions and the support needed during this crucial stage of cancer survivorship. Future research must also increase the focus on the racial and ethnic diversity of participants as well as prioritizing underserved populations and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exercise prehabilitation for people with myeloma undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation: results from PERCEPT pilot randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is first line treatment for newly diagnosed patients with myeloma but often results in functional deficits and reduced quality of life (QOL). Physically active myeloma patients have better QOL, less fatigue and reduced morbidity. This trial aimed to investigate the feasibility of a physiotherapist-led exercise intervention delivered across the continuum of the myeloma ASCT pathway at a UK centre. Initially designed and delivered as a face-to-face trial, the study protocol was adapted to virtual delivery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A pilot randomised controlled trial of a partly supervised exercise intervention with incorporated behaviour change techniques delivered before, during and for 3 months following ASCT compared to usual care. Face-to-face delivery of the pre-ASCT supervised intervention was adapted to virtually-supervised group classes via video conferencing. Primary outcomes related to feasibility; recruitment rate, attrition and adherence. Secondary outcomes included patient reported measures of QOL (EORTC C30, FACT-BMT, EQ5D), and fatigue (FACIT-F), measures of functional capacity (six-minute walk test (6MWT), timed sit-to-stand (TSTS), hand grip strength, self-reported and objective physical activity (PA).

RESULTS

Over 11 months 50 participants were enrolled and randomised. Overall, uptake to the study was 46%. The attrition rate was 34%, mainly related to failure to undergo ASCT. Loss of follow-up for other reasons was low. Secondary outcomes demonstrate potential for the benefit of exercise prior to, during and after ASCT with improvements in QOL, fatigue, functional capacity and PA evident on admission for ASCT and 3 months post-ASCT.

DISCUSSION

Results indicate acceptability and feasibility of delivering exercise prehabilitation, in person and virtually within the ASCT pathway in myeloma. The effects of prehabilitation and rehabilitation provision as a component of the ASCT pathway warrants further investigation.

"What I wanted to do was build myself back up and prepare": qualitative findings from the PERCEPT trial of prehabilitation during autologous stem cell transplantation in myeloma

BACKGROUND

The addition of qualitative methodology to randomised controlled trials evaluating complex interventions allows better understanding of contextualised factors and their potential influence on trial delivery and outcomes, as well as opportunities for feedback on trial participation to improve future trial protocols. This study explored the experiences of participation in cancer rehabilitation research during active cancer treatment. Participants were people living with haematological cancer myeloma, undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) recruited to the PERCEPT myeloma pilot trial.

METHODS

A qualitative semi-structured interview study, embedded within a pilot randomised controlled trial of a physiotherapist-led exercise intervention delivered before, during and after ASCT among people living with myeloma. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Interviews from 16 trial participants (n = 8 intervention group; n = 8 control group; mean age 61 years, 56% male) were analysed. Four main themes were identified: (1) "It's not just beneficial for me, it's for people after me as well"; (2) Disparities in experience of recovery - expectations, feeling prepared and support; (3) "What I wanted to do was build myself back up and prepare"; (4) Active ingredients - participants' experience of the trial intervention. Participants reported both altruistic and perceived personal gain as motivators for enrolling in the trial. Disappointment caused by allocation to control arm may have led to participants seeking exercise elsewhere, indicating possible contamination of control condition. Disparities in experience of recovery from transplant were evident with intervention participants reporting greater trajectory of recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this embedded qualitative study highlight numerous considerations required when designing pilot and efficacy trials of complex interventions. The addition of qualitative investigation offers greater understanding of motivations for participation, intervention mechanisms at play as well as effects of participation that may impact interpretation of quantitative outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Qualitative findings from a prospectively registered pilot trial (ISRCTN15875290), registered 13/02/2019.

A Clinical Case Study of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for Young Adult Cancer Patients’ Psychological Distress: Focusing on Positive Emotions

Psychological distress is highly prevalent among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients, an age-defined population (15–39) disproportionately impacted by their cancer diagnosis. Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is a strength-based and evidence-supported approach for youth with medical conditions. The use of SFBT in young cancer patients, however, has been rarely described. Building on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, this study describes how SFBT clinicians intentionally foster positive emotions, especially hope, in an AYA cancer patient to foster therapeutic change. We found improvements in the patient’s psychological distress as well as growth in levels of hope both in the immediate post-intervention assessment and in the 2-week follow-up. The findings of the study suggested that SFBT is a promising approach to the unique challenges confronting AYAs with cancer. It was not feasible for this case study to match the sex and racial identities for a therapist with the client’s preference, which is considered a main limitation of this study.

Outcomes after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in young adults in Germany

Young adults (YA) represent a minority among recipients of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In order to describe the outcome of YA following HSCT in Germany, 9299 patients who were registered with the German Registry for Stem Cell Transplantation were included in this retrospective analysis of the years 1998-2019. The impact of the variables, such as patient age and sex, sex differences, stem cell source, donor type, conditioning, year of HSCT, the diagnosis, and the achieved remission status were tested in univariable and multivariable analysis for overall, event-free and relapse-free survival as well as for the cumulative incidences of non-relapse and therapy-related mortality. Altogether, the outcome of YA after HSCT improved over time and was determined by the underlying disease, the age at disease onset, stem cell source, and donor type. Patients were most likely to die from relapse, and survival of HSCT recipients after 10 years was reduced by more than half in comparison to the general population of YA. Deeper understanding of modifiable risk factors may be gained by studies comparing the outcome of YA post-HSCT with that of children, adolescents and elderly patients. A deliberate and strong patient selection may further improve mortality rates.

Psychosocial and financial issues after hematopoietic cell transplantation

With improvement in survival after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), it has become important to focus on survivors' psychosocial issues in order to provide patient-centered care across the transplant continuum. The goals of this article are to describe updates in the literature on certain psychosocial domains (emotional/mental health and social/financial) in HCT survivors, offer a brief overview of the status of the screening and management of these complications, and identify opportunities for future practice and research. An evidence-based approach to psychosocial care can be broken down as primary (promoting health, raising awareness, and addressing risk factors), secondary (screening and directing early pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions), and tertiary (rehabilitating, limiting disability, and improving quality of life) prevention. Implementing such an approach requires close coordination between multiple stakeholders, including transplant center staff, referring hematologist/oncologists, and other subspecialists in areas such as palliative medicine or psychiatry. Innovative models of care that leverage technology can bring these stakeholders together to fulfill unmet needs in this area by addressing barriers in the delivery of psychosocial care.

Rehabilitation after Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Special Challenge

Simple Summary

After undergoing an allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHCT), patients need intensive physiological and psychological rehabilitation. This should start immediately after discharge from the transplant ward as in- or outpatient rehabilitation. The rehabilitation centres should be qualified and experienced because this patient group exhibits problems that differ from those of patients who have undergone oncological therapies or autologous HCT. An experienced multidisciplinary team in close consultation with the primary transplantation centre should perform the rehabilitation therapy. This review will show the special challenges of these patients according to different timepoints after HCT. Because there is so little data available, personal experience and general guidelines on patient care after alloHCT are presented.

Abstract

The general population is getting older and suffer more haematological malignancies despite being physically fit. These malignancies are mainly only curable via an alloHCT, and they are now carried out more frequently. Patients benefit from intensive rehabilitation earlier and may need it repeatedly in cases of severe side effects (e.g., graft-versus-host disease). They can suffer many problems that other cancer patients do not experience, such as severe infections, continued immunosuppression, nutritional restrictions, acute or chronic GvHD, or organ impairments (e.g., lung, eyes). They may also encounter various associated psychological problems, e.g., feeling like a chimera. Rehabilitation centres willing to care for patients after alloHCT should have an experienced multidisciplinary team and should work in close co-operation with the primary transplant centre.

Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Adolescents and Young Adults With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: Special Considerations and Challenges

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) represent a challenging group of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) patients with specific needs. While there is growing evidence from comparative studies that this age group profits from intensified paediatric-based chemotherapy, the impact and optimal implementation of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in the overall treatment strategy is less clear. Over recent years, improved survival rates after myeloablative allogeneic HSCT for ALL have been reported similarly for AYAs and children despite differences in transplantation practise. Still, AYAs appear to have inferior outcomes and an increased risk of treatment-related morbidity and mortality in comparison with children. To further improve HSCT outcomes and reduce toxicities in AYAs, accurate stratification and evaluation of additional or alternative targeted treatment options are crucial, based on specific molecular and immunological characterisation of ALL and minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment during therapy. Age-specific factors such as increased acute toxicities and poorer adherence to treatment as well as late sequelae might influence treatment decisions. In addition, educational, social, work, emotional, and sexual aspects during this very crucial period of life need to be considered. In this review, we summarise the key findings of recent studies on treatment approach and outcomes in this vulnerable patient group after HSCT, turning our attention to the different approaches applied in paediatric and adult centres. We focus on the specific needs of AYAs with ALL regarding social aspects and supportive care to handle complications as well as fertility issues. Finally, we comment on potential areas of future research and concisely debate the capacity of currently available immunotherapies to reduce toxicity and further improve survival in this challenging patient group.

Clinical, social, and psycho-oncological needs of adolescents and young adults (AYA) versus older patients following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Purpose

To analyze demand for information and advice as well as medical, psychological, and social needs of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and older patients (non-AYA) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods

A questionnaire was sent to 100 HSCT recipients comprising n = 50 AYAs (aged 19–39 years) and n = 50 non-AYAs (> 39 years). The questionnaire covered the categories: (a) patient characteristics; (b) need for advice, on medical, psychological, and social care topics; (c) medical, psychological, and social needs, and (d) preferred forms and channels of information.

Results

The return rate was 65%. 62.5% of patients indicated medical needs; 41.1% psychological needs, and 64.9% had needs concerning social issues. Among medical aspects, aftercare was important to both groups. Nutrition was of highest interest for AYA, while non-AYAs identified fatigue and vaccination as their most pressing concerns. Body shape/sexuality and relaxation techniques were the most common psychological issues for AYA, while coping strategies were important for both cohorts. Family, relationship and friends were of less interest in both groups. Rehabilitation and premature retirement were of highest interest for both cohorts. The preferred mode of communicating advice was one-to-one conversation in a quiet environment as opposed to informational sessions.

Conclusion

Despite well-established aftercare programs following HSCT, many patients describe unmet needs regarding medical, psychological, and social policy issues. AYA and non-AYA differ in informational needs after HSCT, and, therefore, age-appropriate informational materials are necessary. Particularly AYA may profit from information covering body-shape/sexuality and nutrition, while both cohorts require information covering coping strategies and aftercare.

Factors associated with social functioning among long-term cancer survivors treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as adolescents or young adults

OBJECTIVE

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can compromise long-term health and social functioning. We examined the impact of physical and social-emotional factors on the social functioning of long-term adolescent and young adult (AYA) HSCT survivors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analysis included HSCT recipients from the INSPIRE trial [NCT00799461] who received their first transplant between ages 15-39. Patient-reported outcome measures included the Short Form-36v2, Fatigue Symptom Inventory, Cancer and Treatment Distress, and the ENRICHD Social Support Inventory. We used hierarchical multiple linear regression to identify physical and social-emotional factors associated with social functioning at the baseline assessment, with the first block including sociodemographic and clinical factors significant at P = <0.10 in univariate testing, the second block including fatigue and physical function, and the third block including social support and distress.

RESULTS

Participants (N = 279) were 52% male and 93.5% white, non-Hispanic, with a mean age of 30.3 (SD 6.6) at first transplant. Social Functioning mean was 48.5 (SD 10.5), below age-adjusted norms (t = -13.6, P = <0.001). In the first block, current chronic graft-vs-host disease accounted for 5.5% of the variance (P = <0.001). Adding fatigue and physical function explained an additional 46.6% of the variance (P = <0.001). Adding distress and social support explained an additional 7.7% of the variance (P = <0.001). The final model explained 59.8% of the variance; distress, fatigue, and physical function were significantly associated with social functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

Distress, fatigue, and physical function are associated with social functioning and interventions targeting these symptoms may help to improve SF among long-term cancer survivors treated with HSCT as AYAs.

Quality-of-Life Trajectories in Adolescent and Young Adult versus Older Adult Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is physically and psychologically challenging, potentially exposing patients to quality-of-life (QoL) impairments. Adolescent and young adults (AYAs, aged 15 to 39 years) are a vulnerable cohort facing multiple hurdles due to dynamic changes in several aspects of their lives. The AYA population may be particularly prone to QoL issues during HCT. We hypothesized that due to the unique psychosocial challenges faced by AYAs, they would have an inferior quality of life. We studied QoL differences between AYA (aged 15 to 39 years) and older adult (aged 40 to 60 years) allogeneic HCT recipients before and after HCT. Additionally, we determined if pre-HCT QoL for AYA transplant recipients changed over time. QoL data were collected prospectively before and after transplant on 431 recipients aged 15 to 60 years from June 2003 through December 2017 using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation (FACT-BMT) questionnaire. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to assess differences among age groups. Pearson correlation (r) was used to determine if baseline QoL had improved after HCT from June 2003 through December 2017 in the AYA cohort. QoL did not differ among younger AYAs, older AYAs, or older adults at any time in the first year after allogeneic HCT. At 1 year post-HCT, total FACT-BMT score and all FACT-BMT domains except physical well-being improved from pre-HCT in all age groups. From 2003 to 2017, AYA allogeneic recipients experienced modest improvement in additional concerns (r = 0.26, P = .003), trial outcome index (r = 0.23, P = .008), and total FACT-BMT score (r = 0.19, P = .031), although no improvements were seen in physical, social, emotional, or functional well-being. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found that QoL in the AYA population is similar to that of older adults before and after HCT. Improvements in QoL of AYA allogeneic patients since 2003 were driven by the additional concerns domain, which addresses multiple psychosocial aspects such as vocation, hobbies, and acceptance of illness. Continued efforts to tailor treatment and support for AYA HCT recipients is critical to improving QoL outcomes.

Living Donors: Altruism and Feeling Forgotten

OBJECTIVES

Living donors endure several challenges throughout the organ donation process. Physically related effects are further compounded by social and emotional challenges. To date, no previous studies have addressed the motives and impact of organ donations from living donors in Jordan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a qualitative exploratory study to understand the experiences of a random sample of genetically and legally related living donors in Jordan. Participants were identified through the Directorate of the Jordanian Center for Organ Transplantation database. Our sample included Jordanians and non-Jordanians who donated a kidney or liver. Most data were collected by phone interviews with living donors; some donors were personally interviewed. Donors were asked about their experiences during the periods before and after the process of donation, including their feelings, emotions, and motives. Interviews were analyzed using the thematic analysis approach.

RESULTS

In total, 360 participants (337 kidney and 23 liver donors; 290 Jordanians and 70 non-Jordanians) completed the interview. The time from donation to interview ranged from 14 days to 7 years. The period before donation was characterized by fear and confusion. After donation, most donors described a positive emotional state that was marked by selfsatisfaction, pride, and increased support of organ donation. However, many stated that they felt forgotten. Most donors were motivated by social solidarity, and others invoked the role of their religious beliefs as the main motive. Other motives included improving the recipient's life and fear that patients would be abandoned.

CONCLUSIONS

The emotional distress of living donors during the predonation period emphasizes the need for social and psychological support in addition to medical evaluations. Donors who had positive experiences with donation can play a role in advocating for donation. Finally, in Jordan, social solidarity and religious beliefs are the most important factors that motivate donation.

Coping and Modifiable Psychosocial Factors are Associated with Mood and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is one of most common complications following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and the most significant contributor to morbidity and nonrelapse mortality. The physical burdens and psychosocial difficulties of these patients have not been described systematically. An exploration into the rates and correlates of mood and quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic GVHD is necessary to develop a clinically relevant, evidence-based intervention to promote well-being. From July 2015 to July 2017, adult allogeneic HCT survivors with established moderate to severe chronic GVHD (N = 52) enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal study at a tertiary academic center. We examined the rates and correlates of depression and anxiety symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and explored whether constructs including coping strategies (Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations), symptom burden (Lee Symptom Assessment Scale), physical functioning (Human Activity Profile), and perceived social support (Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey) predicted QOL trajectory over time (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant) at the baseline, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up. Analyses adjusted for age, sex, chronic GVHD severity, and time since chronic GVHD diagnosis. At the baseline, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up, 32.7%, 31.1%, and 37.8% of patients reported clinically significant depression symptoms, and 30.8%, 20.0%, and 36.4% reported clinically elevated anxiety symptoms, respectively. Adjusting for covariates, greater use of negative emotion-oriented coping (β = 0.20, P = .002), less use of task-oriented coping (β = -0.10, P = .021), worse physical functioning (β = -0.07, P = .004), and higher symptom burden (β = 0.07, P = .002) were independently associated with depression symptoms at baseline. Greater use of negative emotion-oriented coping (β = 0.28, P < .001) and worse physical functioning (β = -0.05, P = .034) were independently associated with anxiety at baseline. Patients who used more negative emotion-oriented coping (β = -0.58, P = .035), had less task-oriented (β = 0.40, P = .028) and social diversion-oriented coping (β = 0.35, P = .039), and had higher symptom burden (β = -0.30, P = .001), worse physical functioning (β = 0.32, P < .001), and lower perceived social support (β = 6.47, P = .003) at baseline reported poorer QOL over time. The unmet physical and psychosocial needs of patients with chronic GVHD are substantial and warrant investigation into evidence-based interventions that may improve QOL and mood by targeting modifiable psychosocial constructs identified in this study.

"Improving to where?": treatment-related health risks and perceptions of the future among adolescents and young adults after hematopoietic cell transplantation

PURPOSE

Despite the prevalence of hematological malignancies in early adulthood, very little is known about hematopoietic cell transplantation among adolescents and young adults, and even less is known about their transition from the completion of therapy to early survivorship. In this qualitative study, we investigated the impact of the cancer experience on sense of life potential and perception of the future from the perspectives of adolescents and young adults after hematopoietic cell transplantation.

METHODS

In-depth interviews were conducted with adolescents and young adults who underwent allogeneic or autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation between the ages of 15-29 years and were 6-60 months post-treatment. Interview transcripts were systematically coded based on constructivist grounded theory.

RESULTS

Eighteen adolescents and young adults participated and described how they came to understand the lifelong, chronic nature of cancer survivorship. "Improving to where?" was a question raised in the post-treatment period that reflected participants' confusion about the goals of treatment and expectations for survivorship. Participants reported bracing themselves for "something bad" to deal with the uncertainty of medical and psychosocial effects of treatment. They struggled to move forward with their lives given their substantial health risks and found it necessary to "roll with the punches" in order to adjust to this new reality.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents and young adults who undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation are at significant risk for long-term and late effects in survivorship. Age-appropriate interventions are needed to support these survivors as they manage their fears about the future while enhancing health and well-being.

A review of late complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is an effective and curative treatment of different malignant and non-malignant diseases. Early transplant-related mortality after allo-HSCT has decreased with reduced-intensity conditioning regimens and effective anti-infectious treatments, but late transplant-related mortality is still a problem. Physicians are now paying more attention to late complications that may worsen the quality of life of many transplant recipients. Chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) is one of the major causes of late transplant-related mortality after allo-HSCT. This review discusses recent advances that have been made in clinical evaluation and treatment of late transplant-related complications including cGVHD. The different sites of involvement are organs, especially the skin and eye, and the gastrointestinal, endocrinologic, metabolic, renal, cardiologic, pulmonary, connective tissue, and neurological systems. In addition, this review includes infections and secondary malignancies in post-transplant settings that worsen quality of life in long-term follow-ups.