Avatar Guided Stories of Ease from Adolescents with Cancer

The overall purpose of this mixed method study was to describe adolescents’
experiences of ease while enduring treatment for cancer. Specifically, the study used
avatar image-guided story-sharing (AIGSS) to explore adolescent sense-of-self,
experiences of feeling uneasy, descriptions of qualities of ease, and best places for
finding ease during treatment. The innovative research approach used in this study
incorporated avatar images representing ‘ease’ in typical environments. By testing a
developmentally relevant approach, AIGSS, to explore ease for adolescents enduring
cancer, this study addressed a pressing need for meaningful approaches to engage
adolescents in health-related dialogue about what matters most.
While 10 qualities captured adolescent ease (beauty, fun, safety, strength,
connectedness, calmness, rest, comfort, independence, and familiarity), connectedness,
strength, fun, rest, and safety were the most significant qualities of ease threaded
throughout stories. Two themes of self-reflected identity emerged: (a) valued personal
qualities (extrinsic/admired) and (b) infused unique demeanors. Three themes described adolescent uneasiness during cancer treatment: (a) persistent uncertainty, (b) fearful
anticipation, and (c) disrupted self. While home was most conducive for ease, personal
meaning was given to the hospital enabling finding ease.
This new knowledge is foundational for nurses who support adolescents during
cancer treatment. This research lays the groundwork to re-define ease as a relevant
outcome of quality nursing care, focusing on positive outcomes rather than catastrophic
ones such as infection and death. Advancing caring science with interactive participative
research enhanced communication with adolescents, having implications for both clinical
research and pediatric oncology nursing practice.