What does this research mean for the field?

Health-promoting aftercare for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors is mostly in early development, primarily focusing on physical activity and lifestyle interventions while underrepresenting psychosocial support and structured care planning. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

March 3, 2026Open Access

Beyond treatment: health-promoting aftercare for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors : A scoping review

Key Result

Health-promoting aftercare for AYA cancer survivors primarily focuses on physical activity and lifestyle, with psychosocial support and care planning less addressed, and is mostly in early development

Key Points

Health-promoting aftercare focuses on enhancing well-being among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors, addressing physical and psychosocial needs.
Out of 15 studies, 11 were pilot trials, and 15 included different types of interventions targeting survivorship care planning and support.
Physical activity and lifestyle changes are common in aftercare, with psychosocial support and care planning often lacking in representation.
Future aftercare programs for cancer survivors should integrate holistic approaches, balancing medical and psychosocial needs to improve long-term wellness.

Structured PICO

What are the content and delivery methods of health-promoting aftercare developed for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors?

Population

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors (15-39 years, with eligible studies targeting 12-55 years); 15 studies included.

Intervention

Health-promoting aftercare interventions (including physical activity, lifestyle and behavioral, psychosocial support and self-management, and survivorship care planning and follow-up care).

Outcome

Content and delivery of health-promoting aftercare.

Health-promoting aftercare for AYA cancer survivors is currently in early development, emphasizing physical activity and lifestyle interventions delivered digitally, while highlighting a gap in psychosocial support and structured care planning.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

Purpose: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors (15-39 years) experience complex physical, psychosocial, and developmental challenges. This review aimed to map health-promoting aftercare developed for this group, with a focus on their content and delivery. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, refined by Levac et al., and reported in line with PRISMA-ScR. Searches in CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PubMed identified peer-reviewed primary research articles in English, published 2020–2025. Eligible studies targeted survivors aged 12-55 years, with the majority within the AYA range. In total, 15 studies were included. Results: Interventions clustered into four categories: (1) physical activity interventions, (2) lifestyle and behavioral interventions, (3) psychosocial support and self-management interventions, (4) survivorship care planning and follow-up care interventions. Of the 15 included studies, 11 were pilot or feasibility trials (including two pilot randomized controlled trials RCT), one was a full RCT, and two were protocols without reported outcomes, often delivered digitally or in a hybrid format (face-to-face and digital). Conclusions: Health-promoting aftercare for AYA cancer survivors is still in early development. Current programs emphasize physical activity and lifestyle, while psychosocial support and structured care planning are less represented. Implications for cancer survivors: Aftercare for AYA cancer survivors should be holistic, accessible, and tailored to individual needs, integrating medical follow-up, psychosocial support, and health promotion to strengthen long-term well- being.