Author
- R Tindle1
- CanTeen Australia1
2018
Excerpt
Introduction: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) who experience the death of a family member to cancer often report elevated levels of psychological distress, which is strongly related to their unmet psychosocial needs. To identify their unmet needs, we developed the bereaved cancer needs inventory (BCNI).
Objectives: We aimed to identify the unmet psychosocial needs of AYAs who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling to cancer; how their unmet needs are related to psychological distress; and if the BCNI is an appropriate questionnaire to measure unmet needs.
Approach: A total of 335 participants completed the 58 item BCNI and the Kessler-10 psychological distress scale. The BCNI includes eight areas of need: information, time-out and recreation, practical assistance, support from other young people, support, dealing with feelings, and family.
Practical implications: We found that most bereaved AYAs needed to have ‘time out and recreation’ and ‘support from other young people’. The total number of needs a young person reported was strongly related to how distressed they were feeling.
Conclusion: The BCNI is the first valid and reliable measure of the unmet psychosocial needs of AYAs. Health care professionals should use the BCNI to identify psychosocial risk factors of distress and provide support tailored to each young person’s needs.
Objectives: We aimed to identify the unmet psychosocial needs of AYAs who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling to cancer; how their unmet needs are related to psychological distress; and if the BCNI is an appropriate questionnaire to measure unmet needs.
Approach: A total of 335 participants completed the 58 item BCNI and the Kessler-10 psychological distress scale. The BCNI includes eight areas of need: information, time-out and recreation, practical assistance, support from other young people, support, dealing with feelings, and family.
Practical implications: We found that most bereaved AYAs needed to have ‘time out and recreation’ and ‘support from other young people’. The total number of needs a young person reported was strongly related to how distressed they were feeling.
Conclusion: The BCNI is the first valid and reliable measure of the unmet psychosocial needs of AYAs. Health care professionals should use the BCNI to identify psychosocial risk factors of distress and provide support tailored to each young person’s needs.