Authors: Bibi HølgeHazelton Helle U Timm Christian Graugaard Kirsten A Boisen Cecilie Dyg Sperling
Publish Date: 2016/06/28
Volume: 24, Issue: 11, Pages: 4727-4737
Abstract
A crosssectional national study was initiated in order to evaluate healthcare services and survivorship from the perspective of Danish adolescents and young adults AYAs with cancer The purpose of the paper was to examine Q1 to what extend Danish AYAs experienced fears and worries about dying Q2 with whom if anyone they had shared those worries and finally Q3 how fears and worries influenced their daily life The emphasis will be on Q3A 151item questionnaire including two closed and one openended questions about fears of death and dying was distributed among all 15–29yearold Danes registered with a cancer diagnosis from 2009 to 2013 A total study population of 822 persons participated Data was analyzed using a mixed design of descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysisQ1 Almost 80 of AYAs with cancer expressed some worries about death hereof more than half of them expressed quite a bit or very much The analysis showed significant gender differences whereas age and duration of disease did not have any significant impact on such thoughts Q2 One third had not talked to anybody about his or her worries Q3 The analysis resulted in three overall categories fear of disease and death having little or no influence n = 100 fear influencing in various ways n = 215 and fear of disease and death having a substantial influence n = 75The majority of AYAs had experienced fears and worries about dying but one third of them had not talked to anybody about those thoughts It is an important clinical point that young age does not preclude fears and worries about dying in AYAs with cancer
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