Abstract
PURPOSE: To identify key components of a specialist teenager and young adult (TYA) cancer unit from the perspective of young people and health professionals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A facilitated workshop was held in England at which participants prioritized 15 core features of a specialist cancer unit identified in a literature review. Themes were transferred onto cards and organized using a pyramid. Notes were made of the discussion and how decisions were reached. The exercise was repeated in a survey at a patient conference. Data were analyzed by weighting the ranked position and by content analysis. RESULTS: Eleven young people and 22 health professionals attended the workshops, and 64 young people completed the survey. Young people's top three priorities were a dedicated unit, contact with peers, and provision for partners/parents to live in the unit with them. Health professionals prioritized best chance of survival and best quality of life, access to expertise, access to computers/Internet, and age-appropriate equipment. CONCLUSIONS: Priorities varied across and within healthcare professionals and young people, and were dependent on viewpoint and personal experience. This is an essential first step toward a fuller description of the benefit of specialist TYA cancer services and highlights the importance of consulting users in service development.