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Taylor RM, Whelan JS, Barber JA, Alvarez-Galvez J, Feltbower RG, Gibson F, Stark DP, Fern LA. The Impact of Specialist Care on Teenage and Young Adult Patient-Reported Outcomes in England: A BRIGHTLIGHT Study. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol 2024; 13:492-501. [PMID: 38285524 DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2023.0141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose: In England, health care policy promotes specialized age-appropriate cancer services for teenagers and young adults (TYA), for those aged 13-24 years at diagnosis. Specialist Principal Treatment Centers (PTCs) provide enhanced age-specific care for TYA, although many still receive all or some of their care in adult or children's cancer services. Our aim was to determine the patient-reported outcomes associated with TYA-PTC based care. Methods: We conducted a multicenter cohort study, recruiting 1114 TYA aged 13-24 years at diagnosis. Data collection involved a bespoke survey at 6,12,18, 24, and 36 months after diagnosis. Confounder adjusted analyses of perceived social support, illness perception, anxiety and depression, and health status, compared patients receiving NO-TYA-PTC care with those receiving ALL-TYA-PTC and SOME-TYA-PTC care. Results: Eight hundred and thirty completed the first survey. There was no difference in perceived social support, anxiety, or depression between the three categories of care. Significantly higher illness perception was observed in the ALL-TYA-PTC and SOME-TYA-PTC group compared to the NO-TYA-PTC group, (adjusted difference in mean (ADM) score on Brief Illness Perception scale 2.28 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.48-4.09) and 2.93 [1.27-4.59], respectively, p = 0.002). Similarly, health status was significantly better in the NO-TYA-PTC (ALL-TYA-PTC: ADM -0.011 [95%CI -0.046 to 0.024] and SOME-TYA-PTC: -0.054 [-0.086 to -0.023]; p = 0.006). Conclusion: The reason for the difference in perceived health status is unclear. TYA who accessed a TYA-PTC (all or some care) had higher perceived illness. This may reflect greater education and promotion of self-care by health care professionals in TYA units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Taylor
- Centre for Nurse, Midwife and Allied Health Profession Led Research (CNMAR), University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy S Whelan
- Cancer Division, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julie A Barber
- Department of Statistical Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Javier Alvarez-Galvez
- Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health, University of Cadiz, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Richard G Feltbower
- Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Faith Gibson
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
- Centre for Outcomes and Experience Research in Children's Health, Illness and Disability (ORCHID), Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dan P Stark
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Lorna A Fern
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, University Hospitals London, London, United Kingdom
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Pettitt NJ, Petrella AR, Neilson S, Topping A, Taylor RM. Psychosocial and Support Needs of the Main Caregiver for Adolescents and Young Adults Undergoing Treatment for Cancer. Cancer Nurs 2024:00002820-990000000-00247. [PMID: 38656263 DOI: 10.1097/ncc.0000000000001352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Family relationships and social networks are critically important to adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer, impacting their experience and well-being throughout the cancer trajectory. A cancer diagnosis impacts the development of independence and an adult identity, which can present challenges to psychosocial well-being needs and relationships between caregivers and AYAs. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore the psychosocial and support needs of the main caregivers of AYAs. METHODS This is a secondary analysis of the BRIGHTLIGHT caregiver survey, exploring items pertaining to support offered/engaged with, appraisal of helpfulness, and caregivers' emotional and psychological distress experience. Descriptive statistics, a correlational analysis, and a 1-way analysis of variance were conducted. RESULTS There were 518 caregiver responses (62%). Over half received information about their caregiving needs, with the majority finding this very/fairly helpful. Most (80%) of those who had not received the information would have valued it. High levels of negative emotional and psychological well-being were reported, with 91% feeling depressed or anxious since the AYAs' diagnosis and 41% always/often experiencing these feelings. Total distress was associated with being younger, a parent, female, and unemployed, and earning a below-average income. CONCLUSIONS The needs of caregivers are broad and multidimensional; however, some characteristics were associated with higher distress. When caregiver-specific information was provided by healthcare professionals, it was well received. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Healthcare professionals should consider caregivers' needs individually and provide/signpost to support. Caregivers need to be involved in designing and implementing future research, given the heterogeneity of needs identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola J Pettitt
- Author Affiliations: Corporate Nursing, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (Mrs Pettitt and Dr Topping); Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham (Drs Neilson and Topping); Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Dr Petrella); Centre for Nurse, Midwife and Allied Health Profession led Research (CNMAR), University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Dr Taylor); and Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London (Dr Taylor), United Kingdom
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Critoph DJ, Cable M, Farmer J, Hatcher HM, Kuhn I, Taylor RM, Smith LAM. Is there scope to do better? Clinical communication with adolescents and young adults with cancer-A scoping review. Psychooncology 2024; 33:e6317. [PMID: 38573227 DOI: 10.1002/pon.6317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION How to communicate effectively with adolescent and young adults with cancer (AYACs) is a research priority. In a UK-wide survey of young people with cancer's research priorities, communication was a striking cross-cutting theme. It is increasingly recognised that AYACs have experiences and communication needs that differ significantly from those of younger children and older adults. The purpose of this review is to explore the features of effective clinical communication with AYACs. METHODS A literature search was undertaken to identify and map the available evidence using a broad scope to get an overview of the pertinent literature, identify knowledge gaps and clarify concepts. The searches yielded 5825 records, generating 4040 unique articles. These were screened and 71 full articles were read by four researchers with disagreements resolved by discussion leaving 29 included articles. Narrative synthesis was undertaken in relation to each of the research questions. RESULTS Three key themes were identified: being an adolescent/young adult, supporters, and healthcare professionals (HCPs). AYACs need to feel that HCPs understand their unique perspective. They want to be involved, this changes over time and in different contexts. Supporters are a central tenet, are most often parents and undertake several roles which are not always universally supportive. HCPs enable involvement of AYACs, and this needs to be actively promoted. AYACs preference for their level of involvement requires continual assessment. The three themes are interlinked and exist within the wider scope of the triadic encounter and cancer experience. CONCLUSION Supporters, most often parents were a key feature across the data and were seemingly paradoxical in nature. Triadic communication, the presence of a third person, is a central tenet of communication with AYACs and we propose a conceptual model to represent the nuances, components, and facets of this complex communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah J Critoph
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria Cable
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jessica Farmer
- Haematology & Oncology Department, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Helen M Hatcher
- Department of Oncology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Isla Kuhn
- Isla Kuhn, Head of Medical Library Services, University of Cambridge Medical Library, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rachel M Taylor
- Centre for Nurse, Midwife and Allied Health Profession Led Research (CNMAR), University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Luke A M Smith
- Department of Oncology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK
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Critoph DJ, Taylor RM, Spathis A, Duschinsky R, Hatcher H, Clyne E, Kuhn I, Smith LAM. Triadic communication with teenagers and young adults with cancer: a systematic literature review - 'make me feel like I'm not the third person'. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e080024. [PMID: 38367963 PMCID: PMC10875529 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Clinical communication needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer (TYACs) are increasingly recognised to differ significantly from younger children and older adults. We sought to understand who is present with TYACs, TYACs' experiences of triadic communication and its impact. We generated three research questions to focus this review: (1) Who is present with TYACs in healthcare consultations/communication?, (2) What are TYACs' experiences of communication with the supporter present? and (3) What is the impact of a TYAC's supporter being present in the communication? DESIGN Systematic review with narrative synthesis. DATA SOURCES The search was conducted across six databases: Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science and AMED for all publications up to December 2023. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES Included papers were empirical research published after 2005; participants had malignant disease, diagnosed aged 13-24 years (for over 50% of participants); the research addressed any area of clinical communication. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Three independent reviewers undertook full-text screening. A review-specific data extraction form was used to record participant characteristics and methods from each included paper and results relevant to the three review questions. RESULTS A total of 8480 studies were identified in the search, of which 36 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. We found that mothers were the most common supporter present in clinical communication encounters. TYACs' experiences of triadic communication are paradoxical in nature-the supporter can help or hinder the involvement of the young person in care-related communication. Overall, young people are not included in clinical communication and decisions at their preferred level. CONCLUSION Triadic communication in TYACs' care is common, complex and dynamic. Due to the degree of challenge and nuances raised, healthcare professionals need further training on effective triadic communication. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42022374528.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah J Critoph
- Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rachel M Taylor
- CNMAR, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Anna Spathis
- Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Robbie Duschinsky
- Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Helen Hatcher
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Isla Kuhn
- Medical Library, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Luke A M Smith
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
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Hughes L, Fern LA, Whelan JS, Taylor RM, Study Group B. Young people's opinions of cancer care in England: the BRIGHTLIGHT cohort. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e069910. [PMID: 37730384 PMCID: PMC10514633 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The BRIGHTLIGHT cohort study was the national evaluation of cancer services for teenager and young adults (TYA). This was analysis of free-text survey data to better understand their experiences of cancer care. DESIGN Cohort study SETTING: National Health Service hospitals delivering cancer care in England PARTICIPANTS: 830 young people newly diagnosed with cancer. INTERVENTIONS Exposure to specialist care in the first 6 months after diagnosis defined as care in a TYA Principal Treatment Centre (PTC). This was categorised as follows: all care in a TYA-PTC (ALL-TYA-PTC), no care in a TYA-PTC (NO-TYA-PTC) so care delivered in a children/adult unit only and some care in a TYA-PTC with additional care in a children's/adult unit (SOME-TYA-PTC). PRIMARY OUTCOME Data were collected through the BRIGHTLIGHT survey included free-text questions which asked patients 'what was the best aspects of their experiences of care' and 'what aspects could be improved'. These comments were analysed using content analysis. Themes were compared between categories of care, then ranked in order of frequency, ranging from the most endorsed to the least. RESULTS Overall, young people were most positive about their healthcare team, while the area highlighted for improvement was diagnostic experience. Differences between the three groups suggested those who had some or all treatment in a TYA-PTC valued the place of care. Regardless of where TYA were treated their healthcare teams were favourably viewed. Age appropriate place of care was highlighted to be of value for those in PTCs. CONCLUSIONS These data show the value young people placed on the care they received in TYA specific wards. Young people who accessed some or all of their care in a TYA-PTC highly endorsed their place of care as one of the best elements of their care, and it is further emphasised by those who had shared care who experienced difficulty with lack of age-appropriate care when treated outside the TYA-PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Hughes
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, London, UK
| | - Lorna A Fern
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, London, UK
| | - Jeremy S Whelan
- Cancer Division, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Rachel M Taylor
- Centre for Nurse, Midwife and Allied Health Profession Led Research (CNMAR), University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Brightlight Study Group
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, London, UK
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Taylor RM, Fern LA, Barber J, Gibson F, Lea S, Patel N, Morris S, Alvarez-Galvez J, Feltbower R, Hooker L, Martins A, Stark D, Raine R, Whelan JS. Specialist cancer services for teenagers and young adults in England: BRIGHTLIGHT research programme. PROGRAMME GRANTS FOR APPLIED RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.3310/pgfar09120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background
When cancer occurs in teenagers and young adults, the impact is far beyond the physical disease and treatment burden. The effect on psychological, social, educational and other normal development can be profound. In addition, outcomes including improvements in survival and participation in clinical trials are poorer than in younger children and older adults with similar cancers. These unique circumstances have driven the development of care models specifically for teenagers and young adults with cancer, often focused on a dedicated purpose-designed patient environments supported by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in the needs of teenagers and young adults. In England, this is commissioned by NHS England and delivered through 13 principal treatment centres. There is a lack of evaluation that identifies the key components of specialist care for teenagers and young adults, and any improvement in outcomes and costs associated with it.
Objective
To determine whether or not specialist services for teenagers and young adults with cancer add value.
Design
A series of multiple-methods studies centred on a prospective longitudinal cohort of teenagers and young adults who were newly diagnosed with cancer.
Settings
Multiple settings, including an international Delphi study of health-care professionals, qualitative observation in specialist services for teenagers and young adults, and NHS trusts.
Participants
A total of 158 international teenage and young adult experts, 42 health-care professionals from across England, 1143 teenagers and young adults, and 518 caregivers.
Main outcome measures
The main outcomes were specific to each project: key areas of competence for the Delphi survey; culture of teenagers and young adults care in the case study; and unmet needs from the caregiver survey. The primary outcome for the cohort participants was quality of life and the cost to the NHS and patients in the health economic evaluation.
Data sources
Multiple sources were used, including responses from health-care professionals through a Delphi survey and face-to-face interviews, interview data from teenagers and young adults, the BRIGHTLIGHT survey to collect patient-reported data, patient-completed cost records, hospital clinical records, routinely collected NHS data and responses from primary caregivers.
Results
Competencies associated with specialist care for teenagers and young adults were identified from a Delphi study. The key to developing a culture of teenage and young adult care was time and commitment. An exposure variable, the teenagers and young adults Cancer Specialism Scale, was derived, allowing categorisation of patients to three groups, which were defined by the time spent in a principal treatment centre: SOME (some care in a principal treatment centre for teenagers and young adults, and the rest of their care in either a children’s or an adult cancer unit), ALL (all care in a principal treatment centre for teenagers and young adults) or NONE (no care in a principal treatment centre for teenagers and young adults). The cohort study showed that the NONE group was associated with superior quality of life, survival and health status from 6 months to 3 years after diagnosis. The ALL group was associated with faster rates of quality-of-life improvement from 6 months to 3 years after diagnosis. The SOME group was associated with poorer quality of life and slower improvement in quality of life over time. Economic analysis revealed that NHS costs and travel costs were similar between the NONE and ALL groups. The ALL group had greater out-of-pocket expenses, and the SOME group was associated with greater NHS costs and greater expense for patients. However, if caregivers had access to a principal treatment centre for teenagers and young adults (i.e. in the ALL or SOME groups), then they had fewer unmet support and information needs.
Limitations
Our definition of exposure to specialist care using Hospital Episode Statistics-determined time spent in hospital was insufficient to capture the detail of episodes or account for the variation in specialist services. Quality of life was measured first at 6 months, but an earlier measure may have shown different baselines.
Conclusions
We could not determine the added value of specialist cancer care for teenagers and young adults as defined using the teenage and young adult Cancer Specialism Scale and using quality of life as a primary end point. A group of patients (i.e. those defined as the SOME group) appeared to be less advantaged across a range of outcomes. There was variation in the extent to which principal treatment centres for teenagers and young adults were established, and the case study indicated that the culture of teenagers and young adults care required time to develop and embed. It will therefore be important to establish whether or not the evolution in services since 2012–14, when the cohort was recruited, improves quality of life and other patient-reported and clinical outcomes.
Future work
A determination of whether or not the SOME group has similar or improved quality of life and other patient-reported and clinical outcomes in current teenage and young adult service delivery is essential if principal treatment centres for teenagers and young adults are being commissioned to provide ‘joint care’ models with other providers.
Funding
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research programme and will be published in full in Programme Grants for Applied Research; Vol. 9, No. 12. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Taylor
- Centre for Nurse, Midwife and Allied Health Profession Led Research, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Lorna A Fern
- Cancer Division, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- National Cancer Research Institute, London, UK
| | - Julie Barber
- Department of Statistical Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Faith Gibson
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
- Centre for Outcomes and Experience Research in Children’s Health, Illness and Disability, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sarah Lea
- Cancer Division, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Nishma Patel
- Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen Morris
- Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Javier Alvarez-Galvez
- Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Richard Feltbower
- Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Louise Hooker
- Wessex Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Service, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Ana Martins
- Cancer Division, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Dan Stark
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Rosalind Raine
- Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jeremy S Whelan
- Cancer Division, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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