EHA’s AYA Taskforce publishes results of their Europe-wide Healthcare Professional Survey

A new survey by EHA’s Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Taskforce provides a pan-European healthcare professional perspective on how AYA services are defined and delivered to young people with hematological conditions. The findings highlight a marked variation in access to age-appropriate care and point to practical levers for improvement. 

Background

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) sit at a pivotal stage of physical, emotional, and social development. Yet, in many health systems, care pathways remain organized around traditional pediatric versus adult service structures. This leaves young people with both malignant and chronic non-malignant blood disorders at risk of falling between established models of support.

To better understand the current landscape, the EHA AYA Taskforce designed and disseminated an online survey to healthcare professionals across Europe. The survey explored how ‘AYA’ is defined nationally, what age-relevant services are available, and what barriers and facilitators providers see in delivering high-quality AYA-focused hematology care.

Key survey findings

• 1,490 European healthcare professionals responded, representing 43 countries. 

• Only 50.4% of respondents were aware of a formal national AYA definition; reported age ranges varied widely (most commonly 16–24 years). 

• Having a national AYA definition was associated with better perceived access to age-relevant services (including fertility, psychology, and specialist nursing support). 

• AYA-specific provision was more often recognized for malignant conditions (60.4%) than for chronic non-malignant conditions (32.8%); 34.4% reported no AYA-specific services. 

• 46.3% reported no formal transition programs between children’s, AYA, and older adult services. 

AYA Strategy 

This survey provides a timely, provider-led overview of where AYA hematology services are working well, and where structural gaps, particularly around transition and support for chronic non-malignant conditions, continue to limit equitable care for young people across Europe. 

“Inequity in age-appropriate provision for AYAs with malignant and non-malignant chronic hematological conditions, and a paucity of structured support for transition across the age-boundaries of existing healthcare infrastructure are highlighted as particular challenges to providing optimal support for young people.”

The survey findings have guided the development of an ambitious AYA hematology strategy for EHA, aimed at a clearer recognition of AYA as a distinct population, stronger transition pathways, improved equity for young people with non-malignant chronic blood disorders, and a workforce equipped through education and training.

Survey publication

The survey results were published in eClinicalMedicine, an open access clinical journal, owned by The Lancet.