Premium
Providing psychosocial support for breast cancer patients based on screening for distress within a consultation‐liaison service
Author(s) -
Söllner Wolfgang,
Maislinger Susanne,
König Alexandra,
DeVries Alexander,
Lukas Peter
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.867
Subject(s) - psychosocial , distress , breast cancer , service (business) , medicine , psychosocial support , family medicine , cancer , nursing , psychiatry , clinical psychology , business , marketing
In a consecutive sample of 100 breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, cancer‐related distress was assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and patients' interest in and acceptance of psychosocial support with the Questionnaire for Psychosocial Support and the European Consultation Liaison Workgroup documentation form. 31% of the patients suffered moderate to severe anxiety and/or depression and 42% expressed interest in supportive counselling. The wish for psychosocial support did not correlate with distress (moderate or severe anxiety and/or depression; Kappa = 0.06; P = 0.560). Patients with elevated levels of distress and/or those expressing a wish for psychosocial support were offered counselling by a psychotherapist and a social worker within the framework of a liaison service; 69% of the 58 patients offered such support accepted it. We conclude that screening instruments are helpful in identifying and consequently offering support to patients in need of counselling. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.