Full Sails against Cancer

Angela Mastronuzzi (), Alessandra Basso, Giada Del Baldo, Andrea Carai, Andrea De Salvo, Alessandra Bonanni, Italo Ciaralli, Domitilla Elena Secco and Paolo Cornaglia Ferraris
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Angela Mastronuzzi: Department of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology, and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Alessandra Basso: Department of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology, and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Giada Del Baldo: Department of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology, and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Andrea Carai: Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Andrea De Salvo: Department of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology, and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Alessandra Bonanni: Department of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology, and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Italo Ciaralli: Department of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology, and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Domitilla Elena Secco: Department of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology, and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Paolo Cornaglia Ferraris: Fondazione Tender to Nave Italia ONLUS, 16128 Genova, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-11

Abstract: Background: Cancer is very disruptive in adolescence and hospitalizations interfere with this development stage in becoming independent, developing social relationships, and making plans for the future. A major challenge in the care of adolescents with cancer is being able to enhance their quality of life. The aim of this project is to increase our understanding of how adventure therapy influenced quality of life for adolescents with cancer. Methods: Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with the Tender to Nave Italia Foundation (TTNI), has been conducting a unique project, located on a beautiful brigantine of the Italian Navy. Adventure therapy is a form of experiential therapy that consists of various types of adventure, in particular outdoor and sailing activities. Ninety teenagers have been the protagonists of this project to date and filled out two questionnaires about quality of life and self-esteem, before and after the sailing experience. Results: The adventure provides the opportunity for the participants to build interpersonal relationships and develop life skills that they can benefit from in the future experiences. All participants report a significant improvement in their quality of life and self-esteem at the end of this experience. Conclusion: This collaborative adventure project is a great way to learn and practice new behaviors, improve interpersonal skills, heal painful emotions, overcome personal obstacles and challenges, and help the teenagers to resume their developmental path after an onco-hematological diagnosis.

Keywords: cancer; adventure therapy; sailing navigation; quality of life; adolescence; healthcare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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