Adolescent Barriers to Understanding Cancer Information: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Cancer-related information is widely accessible to adolescents through schools, families, social media, and their surrounding environment. However, increased access to information has not necessarily translated into adequate understanding. This study aimed to explore adolescents' experiences of the barriers they encounter in accessing and understanding cancer-related information.                           A qualitative study with a descriptive phenomenological approach was conducted. Eighteen Grade XII students from SMK Negeri 14 Medan were purposively selected and participated in semi-structured interviews. The data were analysed manually using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. The analysis identified three main themes: (1) difficulty understanding complex and diverse cancer information; (2) difficulty filtering and prioritising large volumes of cancer information; and (3) difficulty coping with uncertainty before developing an adequate understanding of cancer. These barriers were associated with fragmented and limited information, unfamiliar medical terminology, communication that was not tailored to adolescents' level of understanding, the broad scope of cancer-related topics, challenges in prioritising information, confusion in distinguishing between symptoms, prevention, and treatment, and the perception of cancer as an inevitable death sentence. The findings suggest that cancer information for adolescents should be communicated using clear, age-appropriate language, presented progressively, tailored to their lived experiences, delivered by trusted sources, and designed with consideration for adolescents' psychological needs. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of school-based cancer education programmes and adolescent-centred nursing interventions.

Keywords: Cancer; Health literacy; Health information; Teenagers