Psychosocial distress and desire for support among inpatients with skin cancer

Autor: Stine Lutze, Andreas Jülich, Britta Buchhold, Claudia Eggert, Monique Winkler, Hans-Joachim Hannich, Johannes Bahlmann, Andreas Arnold, Michael Jünger
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
Zdroj: JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft. 15:791-799
ISSN: 1610-0379
DOI: 10.1111/ddg.13294
Popis: Background Regular assessment of psychosocial distress is an important component of adequate psycho-oncological and social support in cancer patients. To date, relevant studies on skin cancer patients have primarily included individuals with melanoma. Objectives (1) Does the need for psychosocial support vary with the type of skin cancer? (2) Do mentally distressed patients desire support? (3) From the various individuals in the treatment team, whom do patients choose as potential contact person? Patients und methods Inpatients with skin cancer were asked to self-assess their psychosocial situation using the Hornheide questionnaire. In addition, they were asked about their desire for psychosocial support and the preferred potential contact person. Results The need for support among the 116 patients surveyed varied significantly depending on the diagnosis (p = 0.007). However, the direct comparison between patients with melanoma (n = 38; 32.8 %) and squamous cell carcinoma (n = 9; 7.8 %) (p = 0.724) or other types of skin cancer (n = 20; 17.2 %) (p = 0.366) revealed no such difference. The prevalence of psychosocial distress (n = 49; 42.2 %) and the desire for support (n = 20; 17.4 %) showed considerable differences. Patients primarily chose a physician (n = 14/35) or a psychologist (n = 13/35) as potential "go-to" person for their mental distress. Conclusions Apart from psychosocial distress, the desire for support should be assessed, and patients should be provided access to additional psychosocial care options. With respect to the need for psychosocial support, it does not seem to be justified to preferentially - or even exclusively - consider melanoma patients in clinical practice and research.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz: