A Hospital-Based Online Patients Support Program, Online Adolescent and Young Adult Hiroba, for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients at a Designated Cancer Center in Japan

Takatoshi Hirayama; Rebekah Kojima; Ryoko Udagawa; Yuko Yanai; Yuko Ogawa; Moeko Tanaka; Ayako Kayano; Yuki Mashiko; Kyoka Ogata; Hiroto Ishiki; Eriko Satomi

doi:10.1089/jayao.2021.0168

A Hospital-Based Online Patients Support Program, Online Adolescent and Young Adult Hiroba, for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients at a Designated Cancer Center in Japan

J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2022 Dec;11(6):588-595. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2021.0168. Epub 2022 Jan 11.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psycho-Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
² Department of Palliative Medicine, and National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Department of Psychology and Welfare, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.

Abstract

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer have few opportunities to interact with peers in their lives. To meet peers safely during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a hospital-based online patients support program called Online AYA Hiroba was launched for AYA patients with cancer and held regularly by the National Cancer Center Hospital in Japan. This retrospective study suggested the degree of satisfaction with this program and issues about facilitating the sessions that are unique to the online environment. Our findings potentially contribute to the establishment of a hospital-based online patients support program for AYA patients with cancer at other hospitals.

Keywords: adolescent and young adult; online; peer support; psychosocial support; survivorship care.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Hospitals
Humans
Japan
Neoplasms* / therapy
Retrospective Studies
Young Adult