title: A social program for adolescent and young adult survivors of pediatric brain tumors: The power of a shared medical experience.
abstract: Survivors of pediatric brain tumors experience several medical and psychosocial late effects including deficits in social competence. This mixed methods study investigated the experience of 19 adolescent and young adult survivors of pediatric brain tumors and 17 parents who participated in a social support program. Qualitative results demonstrated a significant social isolation that was compounded by medical late effects. Survivors perceived social support and acceptance from interactions with peers who have similar medical backgrounds as a key aspect of the group experience. Parents reported increased social confidence among survivors, although they did not report that social gains generalized beyond the group setting. Interventions to promote the transfer of specific social skills are needed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care , Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Cori
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liptak
authors.affiliation: b Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control , St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , Memphis , TN , USA.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brinkman
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care , Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bronson
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care , Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delaney
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pediatric Oncology , Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chordas
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care , Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care , Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Andrea Farkas
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Patenaude
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care , Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Muriel
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pediatric Oncology , Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D066107:Social Skills; D012944:Social Support; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adolescent and young adults; cancer survivorship; pediatric brain tumors; psychosocial; quality of life