| Autor: |
Phan J; Psychopathology and Health Processes Laboratory, Paris Cité University, Boulogne Billancourt, France.; Adolescents and Young Adults Unit, Curie Institute, Paris, France., Laurence V; Psychopathology and Health Processes Laboratory, Paris Cité University, Boulogne Billancourt, France.; Adolescents and Young Adults Unit, Medical Oncology and SIREDO (Care, Innovation and Research for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Cancer) Departments, Curie Institute, Paris, France., Marec-Berard P; Pediatrics and Adolescents and Young Adults Oncology Department, Institute of Hematology and Pediatric Oncology, Lyon, France., Cordero C; Adolescents and Young Adults Unit, Medical Oncology and SIREDO (Care, Innovation and Research for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Cancer) Departments, Curie Institute, Paris, France., Riberon C; Pediatrics and Adolescents and Young Adults Oncology Department, Institute of Hematology and Pediatric Oncology, Lyon, France., Flahault C; Psychopathology and Health Processes Laboratory, Paris Cité University, Boulogne Billancourt, France.; Psycho-Oncology Unit, Gustave Roussy Hospital, Villejuif, France.; Functional Unit of Psychology and Liaison Psychiatry and Emergency, Adult and Elderly Psychiatry Service, George Pompidou European Hospital, Paris, France. |
| Abstrakt: |
Purpose: The appreciation of peer support can vary from one country to another due to the cultural and relational differences. This study explores what perceptions French adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in post-treatment for cancer have of the place of sick peers during their treatment and what can make barriers to meet them. Methods: A semistructured interview has been proposed 6 months after the end of cancer treatments. A thematic analysis has been conducted to highlight the major themes and subthemes identified through the participants' discourses. Results: Twelve AYAs (mean age 23 y.o., standard deviation = 2.8; min = 19; max = 26) from two French cancer centers were interviewed. Five major themes were identified, but only two were presented in this article: the place of peers and the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic on AYA facilities. AYA peers with cancer major theme demonstrated that meeting sick peers has benefits (e.g., identification, understanding, support, feeling of normalcy) but also has disadvantages (e.g., negative emotional influence). The benefits of peer-to-peer meetings seem to outweigh the disadvantages. Nevertheless, AYAs can face social barriers to this kind of relationship (e.g., fatigue, need to focus on oneself, confrontation to cancer and negative events, feeling of unnatural meeting). Finally, patients' encounters and the normal functioning of AYA facilities have been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Even if AYA services systematically suggest a meeting with other sick peers, it is important to reiterate this proposal since the needs can evolve over time. It can also be interesting to propose places of life outside the hospital to make the encounters more comfortable and natural for AYAs. Clinical Trial Registration number: NCT03964116. |
