Human Flourishing in Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer
type: CreativeWork
description: Survivorship of adolescents and young adults with cancer (AYAC) has for the last decade been a critical issue in pediatric oncology. Some studies have emphasized the importance of a positive health approach for AYAC, enhancing strengths and resources necessary to successfully address life-long challenges during and after treatment. Human flourishing (HF), a life-long process to achieve “uniqueness, dignity, diversity, freedom, happiness, and holistic well-being of the individual” (National League for Nursing, 2014, p. 1), can work as an excellent target for health care that addresses the unique needs of AYAC. However, the concept of HF has received scant attention in the field of pediatric and young adult oncology and has been applied in a very limited fashion to AYAC. Thus, this dissertation explored the concept of HF in AYAC and developed a concept-based targeted intervention using a Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) Framework. To gain a better understanding of the concept of HF in the context of AYAC, we conducted three different studies: (1) a concept analysis of HF in AYAC; (2) an exploratory study of HF in AYAC from pediatric oncology professionals’ perspectives (N=17), and; (3) a prototype intervention development and single case feasibility and acceptability study. We found critical attributes of HF in AYAC and developed a preliminary conceptual model. Based on the findings of two previous studies, a literature review, and individual/focus group discussions with experts, we developed a dyadic storytelling intervention between a nurse and a patient. To test this intervention’s feasibility and acceptability, we applied the prototype intervention to a single dyad of an adolescent with cancer and a pediatric oncology nurse. Data suggest that the intervention is feasible and acceptable. We will revise the program and conduct a large-scale pilot study as a next step. The findings from this dissertation study explore and contribute to the knowledge generation…
abstract: Survivorship of adolescents and young adults with cancer (AYAC) has for the last decade been a critical issue in pediatric oncology. Some studies have emphasized the importance of a positive health approach for AYAC, enhancing strengths and resources necessary to successfully address life-long challenges during and after treatment. Human flourishing (HF), a life-long process to achieve “uniqueness, dignity, diversity, freedom, happiness, and holistic well-being of the individual” (National League for Nursing, 2014, p. 1), can work as an excellent target for health care that addresses the unique needs of AYAC. However, the concept of HF has received scant attention in the field of pediatric and young adult oncology and has been applied in a very limited fashion to AYAC. Thus, this dissertation explored the concept of HF in AYAC and developed a concept-based targeted intervention using a Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) Framework. To gain a better understanding of the concept of HF in the context of AYAC, we conducted three different studies: (1) a concept analysis of HF in AYAC; (2) an exploratory study of HF in AYAC from pediatric oncology professionals’ perspectives (N=17), and; (3) a prototype intervention development and single case feasibility and acceptability study. We found critical attributes of HF in AYAC and developed a preliminary conceptual model. Based on the findings of two previous studies, a literature review, and individual/focus group discussions with experts, we developed a dyadic storytelling intervention between a nurse and a patient. To test this intervention’s feasibility and acceptability, we applied the prototype intervention to a single dyad of an adolescent with cancer and a pediatric oncology nurse. Data suggest that the intervention is feasible and acceptable. We will revise the program and conduct a large-scale pilot study as a next step. The findings from this dissertation study explore and contribute to the knowledge generation…
author: Cho, Eunji
keywords: Nursing, Adolescent, Cancer, Human Flourishing, Storytelling, Young Adult
date published: 2020
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:07:05Z
provider: Duke University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Duke University

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10161/20895