Young adults with cancer in palliative care/end of life care: integrative literature review

Abstract Introduction: Young adults with cancer in palliative care and/or end of life care are a particularly vulnerable population, about which very little has been studied. The main goal of this review is to summarize their experience. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted in the databases PUBMED®, CINAHL Complete®, MEDLINE Complete® and Scielo® (studies published between January 1st 2017 and January 19th 2024). The review was done following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and PRISMA flowchart. Results: Five articles of various methodologies were included. Among them, a few key themes come to light such: care preferences; negative aspects of the experience; their needs; the familial and social context; and the nurse’s intervention. Conclusion: This is a context of extreme vulnerability, that requires the intervention of a multidisciplinary team. Therefore, it is necessary to support and enable health care professionals to adopt better practices. This remains a subject that requires deeper research.