2025 Volume 5 Issue 1 Pages 1-7
The purpose of this study was to determine nurses’ perceptions of the actual conditions and issues of palliative care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients from the time of diagnosis to the end of life. A questionnaire survey was conducted to 1,329 nurses affiliated with a department that provides treatment/continuous observation to AYA cancer patients. The results showed that the start of palliative care was“from the time of diagnosis”and“from the time of initial treatment”in 49.4%, but those belonging to pediatric departments were significantly more likely to respond“from the time it was determined that treatment was not desirable,”“from the time of recurrence,”and“from the time the general condition deteriorated”(p<0.05). Compared to other generations, the most common situation in palliative care to AYA was“the patient is spending the terminal period in a vague state of awareness or consciousness of the disease”(44.4%). The support systems for palliative care were“Conferences”(88.9%), and“Conferences and workshops”(23.3%). It is necessary to provide educational opportunities on palliative care for all nurses engaged in the care of AYA cancer patients.
