Narrative-Informed, Emotion-Focused Psychotherapy in Synchronous, Online Chat Groups for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer: A Proof-of-Concept Study

J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2020 Dec;9(6):676-682. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2020.0030. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Abstract

Few, scalable, evidence-based psychosocial interventions exist for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (AYAs, 18-39 years old). Using an existing, facilitated, online synchronous chat group-plus-education model (OSG+E), we replaced their educational workbook with an AYA-created film to stimulate an age-specific, emotion-focused group discussion (OSG+V). This randomized proof-of-concept trial compared the two models' content suitability, group processes, and feasibility over 9 months in 34 male and female AYAs with a range of cancers. AYAs rated the OSG + V model more suitable, cohesive, and as having higher levels of important group processes than the OSG+E. A larger randomized trial is feasible for this AYA-appropriate, emotion-focused OSG + V model.

Keywords: adolescents and young adults; online synchronous groups; proof-of-concept; psychosocial oncology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Proof of Concept Study
  • Psychotherapy / methods*
  • Social Media / standards*
  • Young Adult