Impact of a Teen Weekend on the Social Support Needs of Adolescents With Cancer

1. Kristin Stegenga, PhD, RN, CPON®1

1. ¹Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA

1. Kristin Stegenga, Children’s Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA. Email: kstegenga@cmh.edu

Abstract

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the psychosocial stressors of a cancer diagnosis because of the unique expectations of their developmental stage. Their developing autonomy and self-image place them at increased risk for negative outcomes related to cancer diagnosis. One response to the developmental and supportive care needs of adolescents with cancer (AYA) was the development of a teen weekend, named Teenapalooza by participants, which was intended to provide a social outlet for AYA to spend time with other AYA. Teens engaged in activities together and spent the night at a centrally located venue supervised by trained medical and child life staff. It became apparent to staff that Teenapalooza was providing more than fun and an opportunity to spend time with other AYA to participants. However, the mechanisms of support were poorly understood. A convenience sample of 9 prior Teenapalooza participants, aged 14 to 17 years, participated in qualitative interviews to better understand these mechanisms so that future interventions could build on this supportive framework.