E-prehabilitation system of care for teenagers and young adults diagnosed with cancer: study protocol

Background: A diagnosis of cancer in young adulthood can pose many different and unique challenges for individuals. Provision of adequate and appropriate information, care and support for teenagers and young adults around the time of diagnosis is central to their healthcare experience going forward. Appropriate and accessible information provision is critical to ensure young people with cancer feel equipped and empowered to make decisions about, and be involved in, their treatment and recovery throughout their experience; a concept known as prehabilitation. As digital interventions and resources to support TYA with cancer are an increasingly desirable part of healthcare provision, this study will focus on the development of an age and population appropriate (e) electronic-prehabilitation system of care.
Objective: An exploratory, co-design research project will inform the development of an e-Prehabilitation system of care to support Teenagers and Young Adults diagnosed with cancer. A collaborative approach to data collection and prototype design will ensure a patient-centred approach is embedded throughout.
Methods: Qualitative, co-design utilising surveys, interviews and focus groups with Teenagers and Young Adults, Health Care Professionals and Technologists.
Results: This research study is in progress; recruitment and data collection activities have commenced and findings are expected early 2019.
Conclusions: The findings from this study will have important implications for informing the future development and evaluation of an e-Prehabilitation system of care to support TYA diagnosed with cancer.