Need for psychosocial care of oncology patients - Analysis of present state and need in Germany

Author(s): Koch, U., Matthey, K.

Journal/Book: Psychother Psychosom Med Psyc. 1998; 48: P O Box 30 11 20, D-70451 Stuttgart, Germany. Georg Thieme Verlag. 417-424.

Abstract: A comparison of acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient aftercare in Germany reveals significant differences in the quality acid spreading of psychosocial services for cancer patients. Planning psychosocial care for cancer patients, we have to consider patients' needs for psychosocial care as well as the health professionals' estimation of patients' needs and the demand for health care services. Analyses of patients' requirements have shown that the needs which patients defined themselves differ from the needs estimated by experts. Therefore, decisions made in health care must be based on systematic data acquired by various approaches. Within the frame of evaluation performed in the research program,,Rehabilitation of Cancer Patients'' funded by the German Ministry of Research (the former BMFT), data from two studies are presented investigating the need for psychosocial care in oncology using two different approaches. In one study we investigated the status quo of psychosocial care for cancer patients in acute hospitals (n = 585) and rehabilitation centers (n = 42). By use of the Delphi technique, the second study focusses on an analysis of patients' need estimated by health professionals (n = 34). Comparing both studies, deficits in psychosocial care for cancer patients were found especially in acute hospitals and outpatient aftercare services. Methodological problems of the two approaches are discussed and further research strategies are suggested.

Note: Article Weis J, Univ Freiburg, Psychosoziale ABT, Klin Tumorbiol, Breisacher Str 117, D-79106 Freiburg, GERMANY

Keyword(s): need for psychosocial care; cancer; need analysis; rehabilitation; patient's needs

Zurück | Weiter