A Qualitative Study of the Impact of Cancer on Romantic Relationships, Sexual Relationships, and Fertility: Perspectives of Canadian Adolescents and Parents During and After Treatment.

PURPOSE: We sought to gain insight into perspectives around core domains of adolescent development--romantic relationships, sexual relationships, and fertility--from the vantage point of Canadian adolescents and parents during and after cancer treatment. METHODS: Twenty adolescents (12-17 years old at interview) and 20 parents (who may or may not have had an adolescent interviewed) participated in this study. Using a semistructured guide, adolescents and parents were interviewed separately. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcribed interview data were independently coded according to the study objectives by two trained analysts. Codes were organized into categories that reflected emerging themes. Discrepancies in coding were resolved through discussion with the lead investigator. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis revealed main themes for adolescents and parents related to: (1) romantic relationships (opinions on the importance of dating in the context of cancer, expectations that cancer will impact future relationships, dating as a source of moral support, and limited opportunities to engage with partners); (2) sexual relationships (thoughts related to the impact of cancer on future sexual relationships); (3) fertility (initiating treatment as a primary concern and fear of infertility and perceived consequences); and (4) recommendations for care (access to knowledge and support through adolescent-friendly and accessible means). CONCLUSION: Findings from this study highlight cancer-specific relationship and fertility issues faced by adolescents and provide important direction to the development of interventions that may ultimately improve the psychosocial health of adolescents during and after cancer treatment.

Factors associated with intimate partner violence by a former partner by immigration status and length of residence in Canada.

PURPOSE: We examined intimate partner violence (IPV) by a former partner among Canadian-born and immigrant women by length of residence in Canada. METHODS: Data from a 2009 national, population-based, telephone survey were used to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with any type of IPV (emotional, financial, physical, and/or sexual) by a former partner with whom there had been contact in the previous 5 years among immigrant women 0 to 19 years in Canada, 20 or more years or longer in Canada, and Canadian-born women (n = 1681). RESULTS: Of immigrant women in Canada for 0 to 19 years, 41.6% had experienced IPV by a former partner; for immigrant women in Canada for 20 or more years or longer, 60.6%, and Canadian-born women, 61.5% (P = .0423). In a logistic regression model adjusted for age and other sociodemographic characteristics, immigrant women in Canada for 0 to 19 years were less likely than Canadian-born women to experience any IPV (odds ratio, 0.266; 95% confidence interval, 0.130-0.544). There was no difference in the occurrence of any IPV between immigrant women in Canada 20 or more years or longer and Canadian-born women. CONCLUSIONS: High rates of any IPV by a former partner were found for both Canadian-born and immigrant women. Within immigrant communities, specific prevention campaigns should address the high risk of experiencing IPV at later stages of resettlement.

Jointly managing arthritis: information needs of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and their parents.

The objective of this article is to explore information needs of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and their parents in order to develop a web-based psychoeducational program aimed at improving their quality of life. A qualitative study design was used. A purposive sample of children (n = 41; 8-11 years) with JIA and parents (n = 48) participated in parent-child interviews (n = 29), and four child-focus and four parent-focus group interviews. Transcribed data were organized into categories that reflected emerging themes. Findings uncovered three major themes: "living with JIA", "jointly managing JIA", and "need for a web-based program of JIA information and social Support". Subthemes for "Living with JIA" were as follows: "impact on participation", "worry and distress", and "receiving social support". Subthemes under "Jointly Managing JIA" included "obtaining JIA information", "communication and advocacy", and "strategies to manage JIA". Participants endorsed a web-based program as a way to access JIA information and social support. In order to jointly manage JIA, participants expressed the need for disease-specific information, management strategies, and social support and felt that the Internet was acceptable for delivering these disease-management strategies. Findings from this study will inform development and evaluation of an online program to help children and parents jointly manage JIA.

An internet-based self-management program with telephone support for adolescents with arthritis: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of a 12-week Internet-based self-management program of disease-specific information, self-management strategies, and social support with telephone support for youth with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and their parents, aimed at reducing physical and emotional symptoms and improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS: A nonblind pilot randomized controlled trial (NCT01011179) was conducted to test the feasibility of the "Teens Taking Charge: Managing Arthritis Online" Internet intervention across 4 tertiary-level centers in Canada. Participants were 46 adolescents with JIA, ages 12 to 18 years, and 1 parent for each participant, who were randomized to the control arm (n = 24) or the Internet intervention (n = 22). RESULTS: The 2 groups were comparable on demographic and disease-related variables and treatment expectation at baseline. Attrition rates were 18.1% and 20.8%, respectively, from experimental and control groups. Ninety-one percent of participants randomized to the experimental group completed all 12 online modules and weekly phone calls with a coach in an average of 14.7 weeks (SD 2.1). The control group completed 90% of weekly attention-control phone calls. The Internet treatment was rated as acceptable by all youth and their parents. In posttreatment the experimental group had significantly higher knowledge (p < 0.001, effect size 1.32) and lower average weekly pain intensity (p = 0.03, effect size 0.78). There were no significant group differences in HRQOL, self-efficacy, adherence, and stress posttreatment. CONCLUSION: Findings support the feasibility (acceptability, compliance, and user satisfaction) and initial efficacy of Internet delivery of a self-management program for improving disease-specific knowledge and reducing pain in youth with JIA.