Fostering coping by adolescents with newly diagnosed cancer

Abstract

Objectives: To review a research program about adolescents' coping with life-threatening illness and nurses' role in fostering the adolescents' coping efforts.

Data sources: Research studies, review articles, and book chapters.

Conclusions: Adolescents who have cancer are at risk of negative health outcomes. Promoting positive coping during the developmental period of adolescence helps adolescents to assume greater responsibility for their health actions.

Implications for nursing practice: Certain behaviors initiated by health care providers on hopefulness in adolescents assists the ill adolescents in articulating their hopes and realising or redefining those hopes.