Using Intervention Mapping to Develop an Education and Career Support Service for Adolescents and Young Adults Diagnosed with Cancer: Identification of the Contextual Factors That Influence Participation in Education and Employment

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Quality of life for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) is driven by their participation in education and employment. This participation is disrupted for AYAs diagnosed with cancer. There is limited available information on factors that impact participation in education and employment, as well as limited access to evidence-based services. This paper presents the results from the first step in developing an education and career support service for AYAs diagnosed with cancer using Intervention Mapping. Information was collected and combined from a literature review, survey of AYAs, and feedback from a planning group. Factors found to impact AYAs’ participation in education or employment were categorised under AYA behaviours, environmental conditions, health and demographic factors, and internal factors. This information will guide the development of an education and career support service for AYAs diagnosed with cancer, with the aim of improving quality of life. ABSTRACT: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer experience disrupted engagement in education and employment, which can have profound and long-term impacts on their quality of life. It is therefore vital to offer AYAs access to tailored, evidence-based services to help them to achieve their education and employment goals. However, few such services exist for this population. This paper presents the results from the first step in developing an education and career support service for AYAs diagnosed with cancer using Intervention Mapping. This first step involved developing a logic model that describes the influences of health and demographic factors, individual determinants, behaviours, and environmental conditions on AYA participation in education or employment. The logic model was developed by integrating data from an integrative literature review; cross-sectional survey of AYA clients of a community-based organisation; and feedback from a planning group of stakeholders. It is a valuable framework that will be used to direct the focus of the education and career support service for AYAs diagnosed with cancer. More broadly, the logic model has implications for guiding clinical, service, research, and policy improvements for AYA education, employment, and career support, with the aim of improving AYA quality of life.