Understanding the Spiritual and Religious Needs of Young People with Cancer and Their Families to Enhance Holistic Care

Spiritual needs were clustered under the following headings: protection vs autonomy; desire to make a difference; personal issues including loss, privacy, finding a new normal; relationships and attitude including the need to be listened to and opportuniites for empowerment and consent where they could have control; environment including a need for conducive physical and emotional space and a focus on building community; difficult emotions and resilience; need for supportive presence; cultural differences. Religious needs were ritual; hope; questioning and doubt; worldview; language; balance between parent and patient’s needs. Inverted transition was noted as an issue to explore further.