A Longitudinal, Mixed Methods Study Investigating Resilience, Social Support and Quality of Life Amongst Childhood Leukaemia Survivors and their Parents

Avril Deegan

Avril Deegan was awarded an IRC Enterprise Partnership Scheme in conjunction with Breakthrough 2022. Avril is working with supervisor Dr. Simon Dunne in Dublin City University (DCU).

Her PhD is focused on “A Longitudinal, Mixed Methods Study Investigating Resilience, Social Support and Quality of Life Amongst Childhood Leukaemia Survivors and their Parents”. At the age of five Avril was diagnosed with acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Avril says “As a childhood Leukaemia survivor, I feel I have a lot to offer to the research and, more importantly, it is a topic I have great interest in.” In tandem with the growing recognition and importance of patient and public involvement in research, there is an increasing recognition of the value for investing in “expert-by-experience researchers” to ensure that research on a particular topic of inquiry is relevant and reflects the experience of these experts. ‘Experts-by-experience’ are more likely to a) ask more appropriate research questions, which are grounded in their life context, than lay researchers, b) ensure the research has a practical and relevant focus, c) understand the relevant healthcare context, and d) have a network of fellow “experts-by-experience”.  Avril says “For this reason, I feel I have a lot to offer to the field of Leukaemia research and with over 80% of children surviving Leukaemia nowadays, it is inevitable that more research is needed into survivorship care”.

RESEARCH FINDINGS

Publications

Brennan C, Deegan A, Bohan C, Smyth S. A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of Single-Case Group Contingency Interventions Targeting Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior in School Children. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions. 2024 May 1:10983007241235865.

Deegan A, Brennan C, Gallagher P, Lambert V, Dunne S. Social Support and Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review (2006-2022) – PubMed (nih.gov) Psychooncology. 2023 Mar 21. doi: 10.1002/pon.6128

Hayden L, Byrne E, Deegan A, Dunne S, Gallagher P. A qualitative meta-synthesis examining spirituality as experienced by individuals living with terminal cancer. Health Psychol Open. 2022 Sep 8;9(2):20551029221121526. doi: 10.1177/20551029221121526. eCollection 2022 Jul-Dec.PMID: 36105766

Conferences Presentations

24th International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) World Congress 2023, Milan, Italy. Title: “A Systematic Review (2006-2022) Protocol: A Longitudinal, Mixed Methods Study Investigating Resilience, Social Support and Quality of Life Amongst Childhood Leukaemia Survivors and their Parents”.

Awards

1st Prize in the ‘Why Research Matters’ category at the Student Achievement Awards Ireland 2024, Dublin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esc1R7Y5ipI&t=5s