Program Delivery and Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes of an Age-Specific Rehabilitation Program for Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Feasibility Study

Abstract

Purpose:

This study evaluated the program delivery of a part of the age-specific intervention Young Adult Taking Action (YATAC), a rehabilitation program for young adult cancer survivors, focusing on dose, adherence, fidelity and adaptation. It also explored changes in health-related quality of life, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

Methods:

A one-armed feasibility study with 19 young adult cancer survivors (aged 18–39) involved in a multicomponent rehabilitation program a 5-day residential stay, a 10-week home-based period, and a 2-day follow-up. Program delivery data were collected during the stays, and patient-reported outcomes were assessed at baseline and 10 weeks. Changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and responder analysis assessed minimal clinically relevant changes.

Results:

All sessions were delivered, with 100% of participants completing the five-day and a two-day stay. Adherence and fidelity were both 83%, though 30% of sessions reported time constraints. Significant improvements were observed in cognitive functioning (p = 0.0046), fatigue (p = 0.0066), and anxiety (p = 0.0146). More participants showed minimal clinically relevant improvements in cognitive functioning (63%) than deteriorations. Fatigue was the only outcome with no reported clinically relevant deterioration.

Conclusion:

The tested part of the YATAC program demonstrated feasibility with high adherence and fidelity. Some adjustments to session duration and structure are needed. The program showed potential to improve cognitive function, fatigue, and anxiety, though findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small sample size and one-armed design.