Adolescent Oncology Patients Clinical Trial
Official title:
Adolescent Loss: The Impact of Loss on Adolescent Oncology Patients
Teen loss is not uncommon. Depression, emptiness, disbelief, hopelessness, and guilt are typical responses. How teens with cancer cope with the loss of a loved one or a close friend has not been well-studied in the bereavement or oncology literature. This study will describe the impact of loss on teen patients who are on treatment or have recently completed treatment for malignancy. We will look at baseline personality traits and ask teens to identify losses in their life. We will ask questions about coping and meaning-making after loss. A parent will be invited to participate -to measure parental awareness of teen loss and determine if parental coping affects teen coping. The inventories have been validated by other researchers.
All participants will asked to complete a bereavement questionnaire quantifying the losses
they have experienced. All participants will be screened for depression/anxiety as well as
life outlook using validated tools. Patients who identify that they have experienced the
loss of someone significant in their life on the bereavement questionnaire will continue
with the study and complete a battery of validated psychological inventories. They will be
asked to identify their most significant loss in regards to completion of the remainder of
the questionnaire. In addition, those who identify losing a friend to cancer will be invited
to participate in a 30-45 minute semi-structured interview (in person or via telephone)
during a second session with the study staff. This interview will be audiotaped, to allow
for transcription and analysis later. Parents will complete demographic information, the
bereavement questionnaire, and complete inventories of family coping / cohesion regardless
of child's responses to bereavement questionnaire.
In addition, those who identify losing a friend to cancer will be invited to participate in
a 30-45 minute semi-structured interview (in person or via telephone) during a second
session with the study staff.
Primary Objectives:
- Estimate the prevalence of loss, with particular interest in the extent of peer loss,
in adolescent oncology patients who have been on therapy ≥ 12 months (≥ 6 months if
progressive or refractory disease) or off therapy for ≤ 3 years.
- Describe the impact of loss on adolescent oncology patients by focusing on coping
efficacy, psychological distress, meaning-making, and complicated bereavement.
Secondary Objective:
- Describe parental knowledge of losses experienced by an adolescent child who has
recently undergone therapy.
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Observational Model: Case-Only, Time Perspective: Prospective