Can We Change Patients’ Perception of the Psychologist to Promote Support in Oncology? Randomized Impact Study of the Psycho-oncology Intervention

Abstract

Aims: To assess the interest and the efficacy of a systematic encounter with a psycho-oncologist on the perception of the psychologist among men and women with cancer. Procedure: The patients who systematically encounter the psycho-oncologist were compared to a control group. Anxio-depression symptoms and the patients’ perception of the psychologist were assessed on two occasions: at the time of diagnosis and 4 months later, during treatment. Results: On the overall group, we failed to observe significant differences between conditions about the perception of the psychologist, but gender was a critical factor associated with both perception of the psychologist and further psychological consultations. Those men who met a psychologist soon after diagnosis continued to meet the psychologist to a far greater extent than those in the control group. Conversely, women pursued psychological support whether they had encountered the psychologist or not. Conclusion: Results indicate that an encounter with the psychologist can be helpful to elicit interest in a psychological support, especially for men.