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Psychosocial burden and desire for support in outpatients with skin cancer
Author(s) -
Buchhold Britta,
Wiesmann Ulrich,
Bahlmann Johannes,
Lutze Stine,
Eggert Claudia,
Arnold Andreas,
Daeschlein Georg,
Jünger Michael,
Hannich HansJoachim
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
jddg: journal der deutschen dermatologischen gesellschaft
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.463
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1610-0387
pISSN - 1610-0379
DOI - 10.1111/ddg.12767
Subject(s) - psychosocial , distress , medicine , family medicine , social support , cross sectional study , clinical psychology , psychiatry , psychology , psychotherapist , pathology
Summary Background An important basis for adequate psycho‐oncological and psychosocial care of cancer patients is the regular assessment of their psychosocial distress and thus their need for care. For this purpose, there are numerous questionnaires available. The objective of the present study was to assess whether distressed patients require professional support and which screening instrument outpatients with skin cancer prefer. Patients and methods In a cross‐sectional survey, we asked outpatients with skin cancer to fill out three questionnaires assessing psychosocial stress, and to indicate which one they considered most adequate. Patients were offered the following three instruments: Hornheide Questionnaire (27 items), Hornheide Screening Instrument (7 items), and the Distress Thermometer. In addition, we inquired about the patients’ desire for support. Results (1) Comparing subjective distress and patients’ declared desire for support revealed a marked divergence. While one‐third of the 137 patients were identified as being in need of care, only 11.5 % of the sample requested such support. (2) 63.7 % of patients chose the long version of the Hornheide Questionnaire. Conclusions In addition to their psychosocial burden, patients’ desire for support should be assessed. Moreover, apart from screening tools, other ways to provide access to psychosocial care should be considered.