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Rao P, Kazak AE, Doerksen SE, Koehly LM, Verdery AM, Heitzenrater J, Harding BA, Byrnes CL, Costigan HJ, Rovniak LS, Sciamanna CN, Van Scoy LJ, Schmitz KH. AYA-UNITE: Lessons Learned on Intervention Development Promoting Social and Physical Health of Adolescent/Young Adult Cancer Survivors. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol 2023; 12:929-934. [PMID: 37815633 PMCID: PMC10777817 DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2023.0093] [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] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Adolescent/young adult cancer survivors (AYACS) struggle with poor psychosocial health related to social disruptions due to cancer diagnosis, impacting long-term goal achievement and overall health. In particular, social health promotion is overlooked in AYACS' care. AYA-UNITE, a sociobehavioral exercise intervention pilot for AYACS 15-21 years of age at cancer diagnosis, was designed to foster AYACS' social and physical health. AYA-UNITE was a 12-week group-based virtual exercise program incorporating strength training and aerobic activity. In this brief report, we account AYA-UNITE's conceptual design, lessons learned through AYA-UNITE intervention development, and opportunities for improvement in implementing effective AYACS psychosocial interventions (NCT03778658).
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Rao
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Penn State Health Children's Hospital, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anne E. Kazak
- Center for Healthcare Delivery Science, A.I. du Pont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
| | - Shawna E. Doerksen
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laura M. Koehly
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ashton M. Verdery
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jared Heitzenrater
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brennen A. Harding
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Courtney L. Byrnes
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Heather J. Costigan
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Liza S. Rovniak
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Lauren J. Van Scoy
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kathryn H. Schmitz
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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