Aims and background. Adolescents with @entity5 have psychosocial issues that need to be adequately addressed. Spirituality is a fundamental aspect of their psychological well-being. Methods. A chaplain is a daily presence in the Youth Project ward for adolescents at the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan. The chaplain conducts daily visits to the ward and the outpatient clinic/day hospital, holds daily meetings with the psychologists on staff, and attends biweekly meetings with doctors and/or nurses. The cases of @entity1 referred for spiritual assistance between January and December 2012 were analyzed by @entity1 age and reasons for consultation, and were compared with cases referred for @entity458 . Results. @entity1129 was offered to 84% of @entity1 /families, and further support was needed for 23% of @entity1 and 45% of teenagers. Spiritual support was provided for 2 @entity1 and 20 adolescents (24% of the sample considered). Conclusions. Acknowledgment of their spiritual needs helps @entity1 to battle with their disease. The reasons @entity1 and parents ask for spiritual assistance only partially overlap with the motives behind requests to see a psychologist. The care of adolescents with @entity5 should include catering for their spiritual needs by assuring the constant presence of a chaplain on hospital wards.

Spiritual aspects of care for adolescents with XXXX .

@entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['cancer'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity458 :: ('MESH:D020018', 'Disease') :: ['psychological consultation'] @entity1129 :: ('MESH:D001260', 'Disease') :: ['A psychological consultation']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['cancer']
