Steps forward: towards a service delivery improvement framework for adolescents and young adults with cancer

摘要

There is mounting national and international evidence to support targeted improvements in cancer care services for adolescents and for young adults; an age group defined in Australia as those between 15 and 25 years. Both paediatric and adult oncology and haematology services currently provide cancer care for adolescents and young adults. There are many unmet needs under the current service delivery paradigm – both physical and psychosocial. Improving cancer outcomes for young people is clearly multidimensional and must be achieved over time. Cancer Australia brought together a diverse set of stakeholders to form the Adolescents and Young Adults Cancers National Reference Group. With support from CanTeen, a peer support organisation for adolescents and young adults with cancer, the reference group developed a service delivery framework which aims to reduce the impact of cancer on young Australians. Adolescents and young adults are receiving treatment, across many centres throughout Australia, and will benefit from: better coordination of existing services; and, promotion of access to these coordinated services. At present, a broader consultation on the framework for adolescent and young adult cancer care has commenced with state and territory health jurisdictions.