To Örebro University

Purpose: To explore the experiences of young adult survivors of childhood cancer, their parents, health care professionals and case noteevidence of the process of transition from paediatric to adult cancer services.

Methods: A qualitative case study, with 12 cases recruited. Audio recorded, individual, semistructured interviews were conducted to explore experiences of transition with young people, parents and health care professionals. Young people: 7 males and 5 females aged between 17 and 25 and who were survivors of childhood cancer were interviewed; Parents: 11 mothers and 1 father were nominated and interviewed; Health care professionals: 11 health care professional interviews were conducted. Also, young people’s case notes from both the paediatric and adult sector, where available, were subjected to a case note review for further evidence relating to their transition experience. In total, 22 sets of case notes were reviewed.

Results: The findings from this study provide a detailed, triangulated multi-perspective and multi-layered depiction of the transition experience of young people, parents, and health care professionals, explained by an orienting theme, ‘The experience of readiness in the context of transition’. This readiness was considered multi-dimensional in nature and was supported by means of three main themes, as derived from the interview and case note data in this study.