Table 2.
Theme Category 2: Characteristics and Outcomes of Connectedness
| Theme Cluster 2.1. Sense of being cared about, known, respected, and valued. Sense of intimacy, security, and trust. |
Sense of being cared about | Sense of intimacy |
| Sense of being known | Sense of security | |
| Sense of being respected | Sense of trust | |
| Sense of being valued | ||
| Theme Cluster 2.2. A comfortable haven in the midst of chaos | Sense of comfort among all of the turmoil related to the diagnosis and treatment | |
| Sense of comfort in communicating within the AYA-HCP relationship | ||
| Sense of comfort in expressing oneself | ||
| Buffers some of the discomfort AY endure during treatment | ||
| Theme Cluster 2.3. When healthcare providers and adolescents connect so well–outcomes of connectedness | Blown away by HCPs who go the extra mile | |
| Strong desire to connect with HCPs | ||
| Looking forward to future interacts with HCPs | ||
| Sense of admiration for who HCPs are as a person | ||
| Sense of joy and pleasure interacting with HCPs | ||
| Increasing sense of confidence in self | ||
| Increasing sense of empowerment | ||
| Enhancing well-being | ||
| Theme Cluster 2.4. Sense of gratitude | Overwhelming sense of gratitude | |
| Deep sense of gratitude for being treated as a unique person | ||
| Highly appreciative | ||
| Sense of gratitude for existential growth through their connectedness with HCPs | ||
| Empathic understanding for HCPs | ||
| Overflowing sense of connectedness (expands to perceived sense with the majority of HCPs and the environment) | ||
| Grateful for the cancer journey finally coming to an end | ||
HCP, healthcare provider.