Work

Non-pharmacological interventions to support return to education and work for adolescent and young adults (AYAs) following a cancer diagnosis: a scoping review protocol

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective: This scoping review will explore and chart the evidence relating to non-pharmacological interventions that support education and/or employment for adolescent and young adults (AYAs) following a cancer diagnosis. Introduction: The number of newly diagnosed AYAs with cancer is increasing and so too is the number of AYAs living with and beyond cancer. In line with missed schooling and long-term side-effects of treatment, it is unsurprising that this group may under-perform academically and be at higher risk of unemployment in comparison to their peers. Developing an overview of existing interventions to support education and/or employment for this cohort, is therefore important. Inclusion Criteria: Studies that explore non-pharmacological interventions that support education and/or employment for AYAs (aged 15-39 years at cancer diagnosis) post-cancer diagnosis. Interventions can be group-based, individual, and/or online in format, and can be vocational, psychosocial, physical, educational or multidisciplinary in nature. Qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods studies, case studies, observational studies, reports and theses will be included. Methods: This scoping review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews. Databases to be searched include EMBASE, Web of Science, Medline (OVID), CINAHL, and PsycInfo, with no limitation on publication date. Grey literature will be searched, limited to the first 100 searches on Google Scholar. Titles and abstracts will be screened and two independent reviewers will review identified fill-texts. A data extraction tool will be used for data extraction.

Source: HRB Open Research

DOI: 10.12688/hrbopenres.14096.2