'Trying to catch up with life': The expectations and views of adolescent survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia about long‐term follow‐up care: A qualitative research.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore adolescent survivors' views and expectations about long‐term follow‐up care. Methods: Semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews were conducted with 16 adolescent survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Survivors who had completed treatment at least 2 years ago were involved in the study. Interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. An inductive thematic approach was used to analyse the data. Results: Four main themes and sub‐themes were identified from the analysis as follows: information needs with three sub‐themes 'long‐term follow‐up, healthy life and social life', support needs with three sub‐themes 'psychosocial (peer relations etc.), school related and social–emotional (fear of relapse, body image, self‐esteem, etc.)', perceived benefits with two sub‐themes 'social–emotional and related to long‐term follow‐up' and perceived barriers 'medical‐hospital related and social life'. Conclusions: Adolescent survivors mainly need support in terms of psychosocial aspects: self‐esteem–body image, school, peer relations and social activities during follow‐up. Identified barriers related to follow‐up were school absence and not able to participate social activities. Adolescents specify health promotion approaches as benefits aspects of follow‐up. The findings of this study will guide nurses in the long‐term follow‐up care of adolescent survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and provide an opportunity to plan individualised follow‐up care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]