Cancer survivorship care presents unique challenges for young adults in their 20s and 30s, a critical stage in the life course often overlooked in existing Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) care frameworks, which traditionally focus on those aged 15-25.
This project, based at an integrative oncology unit in a public hospital in Melbourne, aims to conduct a needs analysis of young adults in their 20s and 30s, and shine a light on their specific needs to inform future survivorship care programs.
Using a qualitative research approach, two focus groups will occur—one with healthcare professionals and another with patients in the target age group. An open-ended survey will also be distributed to capture the perspectives of those not able to attend the focus groups. The primary objective is to identify unmet needs and gaps in current care, and capture the top concerns and topics that matter, with the goal of better understanding the specific challenges faced by this population.
While the project centres on needs analysis, the findings will inform the design of future survivorship programmes tailored to this age group. Comparing perceptions of health professionals and patients, this information will highlight areas where care may be misaligned with patient needs.
This initiative contributes to building capability and capacity in survivorship care by empowering patients to voice their needs and helping healthcare providers better understand how to address those needs. This data will help define what life alongside cancer looks like for people in their 20s and 30s and contribute to the development of staff education and referral indicators, aimed at enhancing care and support for young adults. The insights gained will inform high-quality, meaningful person-centred care for this often-underrepresented group. This will ensure that optimal care pathways and future programs are designed to meet their specific and unique survivorship needs prioritising health and wellbeing.