title: A Qualitative Inquiry of Childhood and Adolescent Cancer Survivors' Perspectives of Independence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This report examines facilitators and barriers to independence for a sample of survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted 53 semistructured, in-depth interviews with adult survivors of cancer diagnosed at ages 0-20 years. Researchers qualitatively coded themes to reflect responses to the question inquiring about how cancer may have affected survivors' independence from their parents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 21 survivors who reported that cancer affected their independence, themes included challenges and motivators to independence following cancer. Challenges to independence included overprotection by parents, financial dependence, problems in healthcare decision-making, and emotional dependence. Motivators included self-confidence, desire for independence, parental support, and inadequate family support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supportive care for survivors of childhood and adolescent cancers should include services to help them in their journey toward developmental independence.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.|2 Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Rochelle R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Smits-Seemann
authors.affiliation: 3 College of Social Work, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Jaehee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: 3 College of Social Work, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: 2 Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Echo L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.|2 Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Anne C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000073116:Cancer Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: family; relationships; survivorship