Kudos to PhD student Eunji Cho and her mentor Sharron Docherty for the submission of her American Cancer Society (ACS), Doctoral Degree Scholarship in Cancer Nursing application entitled "Developing and Pilot Testing a Pediatric Oncology Nurse-Adolescent Dyadic Storytelling Intervention." This proposal requests funding for a two-year period with a start date of July 1, 2019.

Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer are an underserved population in modern oncology healthcare settings that have unique healthcare needs. They confront the unique developmental tasks of their age group while dealing with a range of challenges related to cancer and its treatment. A complex healthcare system and rapid-paced decision-making process leave these adolescents feeling a lack of control and lead to a range of negative impacts. Furthermore, moving into survivorship as an adolescent or young adult is challenging given their reduced involvement in developmentally targeted activities during the treatment. Conversely, there is a unique cohort of AYAs shows the ability to move beyond the period of distress and suffering to emerge and live a high-quality life. Human flourishing, an optimal form of human development, can offer the possibility to illustrate the unique attributes of AYAs who experience highly positive growth following cancer treatment, yet it has had little application in this population. Understanding these unique outliers will build knowledge to develop effective and practical interventions targeting young patients who will confront the challenging impact of life-threatening illnesses and promoting their positive development.

Objective/Hypothesis: The objectives of this study are to (1) understand the attributes and process of human flourishing in AYAs who are treated for cancer during adolescence and (2) develop a provisional intervention model to promote flourishing in AYAs with cancer.

Specific Aims: The specific aims are (1) examine the concept of human flourishing in the context of AYAs with cancer, (2) explore the experience of pediatric oncology healthcare providers who have witnessed human flourishing in AYAs with cancer, (3) develop a provisional dyadic storytelling intervention model, and (4) test the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention.

Study Design: An in-depth concept analysis of human flourishing in AYAs with cancer will be conducted to understand the core attributes of human flourishing and its conceptual framework. A mixed-methods exploratory study of the empirical knowledge of pediatric oncology healthcare providers will follow to understand the critical attributes of human flourishing from their experiences of caring adolescents with cancer across the diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship trajectory. Then a formative research for developing a provisional dyadic storytelling intervention to promote flourishing in AYAs with cancer and reduce compassion fatigue in pediatric oncology nurses will be conducted. To test the feasibility and acceptability, and optimize the model, a mixed methods study with (1) a focus group evaluation from pediatric oncology healthcare providers, (2) an individual interview with young adult cancer survivors, and (3) a single case study with an adolescent undergoing treatment for cancer and his/her primary nurse will be performed.