Table 1.
Theme Category 1: Connectedness Strategies
| Theme Cluster 1.1. Connectedness characteristics | Caring | Understanding |
| Calm | Approachable | |
| Honest | Available | |
| Friendly | Continuity | |
| Endearing | Attractive | |
| Thoughtful | Young in Age | |
| Competent | ||
| Theme Cluster 1.2. Displaying a willingness to foster a relationship | Spending quality time with AYA | |
| Expressing a desire to get to know AYA on a personal level | ||
| Treating AYA more like a friend than a patient | ||
| Theme Cluster 1.3. Being watchful for and attentive to AYA needs | Preventing and quickly managing treatment-related side effects/symptom distress | |
| Gatekeeper role | ||
| Theme Cluster 1.4. Humor to foster connectedness | Using humor to ease awkwardness | |
| Responding to AYA silly request for humor | ||
| Making AYA laugh | ||
| Using humor to promote positive health behaviors | ||
| Knowing appropriate times to use and not use humor | ||
| Theme Cluster 1.5. Conveying respect, support, and caring | Conveying respect | |
| Treating AYA more than just another cancer patient | ||
| Respecting AYA's space | ||
| Providing enough information for AYA to know what to expect | ||
| Handling embarrassing situations delicately | ||
| Inquiring about AYA needs, opinions, and desire | ||
| Communicating in an age-appropriate manner | ||
| Conveying support and caring | ||
| Supporting AYA need to keep up with the outside world (e.g., school, sports, and friends) | ||
| Supporting AYA's autonomy and independence | ||
| Helping AYA work through difficult situations | ||
| Caring above and beyond (i.e., celebrating birthday, special occasions, and treatment milestones) | ||
AYA, adolescents and young adults.