Adolescents and young adults (AYA) battling cancer face a number of significant challenges. In addition to the acute side-effects experienced during treatment, many will also suffer long-term adverse effects. In this sense, pediatric cancer survivors run a high risk of health complications, which particularly affect their cardiovascular and mental health. This risk is even greater for AYA cancer survivors. Fortunately, a healthy lifestyle can help prevent these complications. To address this issue, we developed a study called VIE (Valorisation, Implication, Education) at CHU Sainte-Justine. This program trains newly-diagnosed patients, their families and healthcare professionals in the benefits of adopting a healthy lifestyle at an early stage, in particular a balanced diet, physical activity and stress management. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our research team developed and tested remote interventions that were much appreciated by families for reducing the burden associated with in-person visits. One challenge we face is that patients in the AYA group are, on the one hand, more affected by treatment than younger people and, on the other, respond less well to family lifestyle support programs. What’s more, the COVID-19 crisis has had a very strong negative impact on the AYA, and those with cancer have not been spared – quite the contrary. It is both necessary and possible to refine the VIE intervention so as to better involve the AYA and improve their health and well-being.

Our main objective is to develop and test the VIE-AYA intervention. To do this, we will, over a period of 2 years :

(1) To develop the VIE-AYA intervention in collaboration with 10 former participants in the VIE study who were AYA when they were diagnosed with cancer, taking into account the impact and context of the pandemic.

(2) Test and refine the VIE-AYA program with 10 patients undergoing cancer treatment. These AYAs will participate in this 6-month intervention, and we will then evaluate their satisfaction and the acceptability of the program. We will also interview their family and 10 members of the oncology care team to assess their appreciation of the intervention.

(3) Evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of VIE-AYA on participants’ health-related behaviors and quality of life. To do this, we will compare the data collected with those of other AYAs who were exposed to the initial VIE program and who have never been exposed to VIE.

This project addresses important challenges in cancer treatment: the well-being and health of AYA during and after cancer, combined with the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in this population. Using the lessons learned by our research team from the pandemic, we plan to make a positive impact on this vulnerable group.