Abstract
Background
Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer and their families often experience unmet palliative and bereavement care needs, with limited access to timely, age-appropriate supports. Charitable organizations often bridge these gaps by providing psychosocial support to the family beyond standard clinical care. This poster presents palliative care and bereavement findings from a broader qualitative study exploring the psychosocial support needs of families affected by AYA cancer, with a focus on the role of charitable organisations and barriers to accessing support.
Methods
A total of 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with charity support staff: five with ROI-based charities, five with NI-based charities, and two with charities operating on an all-Ireland basis. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. This poster presents findings related to palliative care, bereavement, and barriers to accessing charitable support.
Findings
Charitable organizations played an integral role in supporting families affected by AYA cancer throughout palliative care and bereavement by facilitating end-of-life conversations, helping preparing families for loss, and providing ongoing emotional and peer support. However, access to support was hindered by practical barriers such as geographical location, childcare responsibilities, limited awareness of services, and inadequate integration with the health service. Resource constraints further limited charities’ ability to provide sustained bereavement support, highlighting important gaps in family-centred care.
Interpretations
Families impacted by AYA cancer rely on charitable organisations for support that extend beyond standard clinical care. Addressing barriers to access and strengthening partnership between the health service and charitable sector is essential to deliver equitable, family-centred palliative and bereavement care.
Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer and their families often experience unmet palliative and bereavement care needs, with limited access to timely, age-appropriate supports. Charitable organizations often bridge these gaps by providing psychosocial support to the family beyond standard clinical care. This poster presents palliative care and bereavement findings from a broader qualitative study exploring the psychosocial support needs of families affected by AYA cancer, with a focus on the role of charitable organisations and barriers to accessing support.
Methods
A total of 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with charity support staff: five with ROI-based charities, five with NI-based charities, and two with charities operating on an all-Ireland basis. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. This poster presents findings related to palliative care, bereavement, and barriers to accessing charitable support.
Findings
Charitable organizations played an integral role in supporting families affected by AYA cancer throughout palliative care and bereavement by facilitating end-of-life conversations, helping preparing families for loss, and providing ongoing emotional and peer support. However, access to support was hindered by practical barriers such as geographical location, childcare responsibilities, limited awareness of services, and inadequate integration with the health service. Resource constraints further limited charities’ ability to provide sustained bereavement support, highlighting important gaps in family-centred care.
Interpretations
Families impacted by AYA cancer rely on charitable organisations for support that extend beyond standard clinical care. Addressing barriers to access and strengthening partnership between the health service and charitable sector is essential to deliver equitable, family-centred palliative and bereavement care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Unpublished - 9 Sept 2026 |
| Event | Palliative Care Research Forum NI Conference: Every Life, Every Day: Tackling Inequalities in Palliative Care - Ulster Univeristy, Belfast, Northern Ireland Duration: 9 Sept 2026 → … |
Conference
| Conference | Palliative Care Research Forum NI Conference |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Northern Ireland |
| City | Belfast |
| Period | 9/09/26 → … |
UN SDGs
This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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