Acceptability, feasibility and preliminary effects of an online group psychotherapy intervention for adolescents and young adults with cancer

Abstract

Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs; ages 15–29 years) diagnosed with cancer are increasingly recognized as an oncology population with distinct psychosocial needs. However, few specialized psychosocial interventions for AYAs currently exist. This study reports on the development of a novel group-based psychotherapy intervention to address the psychosocial needs of AYAs. The objective was to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effects of the intervention. Methods: The manualized group psychotherapy program is delivered virtually over an 8-week period by registered psychologists. Four groups (n = 5–11 AYAs per group) with a total of N = 33 participants (Mage = 20.97 years, SD = 3.68, range = 15–29 years, 76% women) were conducted. Recruitment and retention data assessed intervention feasibility. Patient-reported psychosocial outcomes were measured at baseline and immediately following the intervention to assess preliminary effects. Acceptability was assessed following the intervention using a self-report measure of participant satisfaction. Results: Overall, the completion rate of the intervention was 85% (n = 28). All participants “strongly agreed” (88%) or “agreed” (13%) that they were satisfied with the group. Meeting, sharing experiences, and expressing feelings with other AYAs were identified as the most helpful aspects. Participants reported significant improvements in emotional (p < 0.05) and functional (p < 0.01) quality of life from baseline to immediately post-intervention with medium effect sizes (d = 0.58–0.70). Conclusions: Findings suggest that the intervention is feasible, acceptable, and shows promise for improving psychosocial outcomes for AYAs. Further research will refine the intervention and establish efficacy in a randomized trial.