Clinical and sociodemographic data of cancer patients seeking out-patient based psycho-oncological psychotherapy.

Abstract

e19610 Background: Although there is a defined need for out-patient psychosocial care for cancer patients, data about out-patient psycho-oncological health care services and patients’ usage of ambulatory infrastructure outside certified cancer centres are scarce. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed charts and treatment protocols from 1,369 patients treated between 1998 and 2009 in a psycho-oncology (PO) practice retrieving socio-demographic and cancer-specific data plus data regarding PO intervention. Results: Of 1,180 patients analysed so far, 808 were documented cancer patients and 372 were relatives or friends of cancer patients. Median age of cancer patients was 50 (range 21-81) years, the majority being female (91%). Although PO interventions are not generally covered by most health care insurances in Germany, 87.7% of patients had public health insurance and only 12.7% had private insurance. 62,5% of patients (n=505) were diagnosed with breast cancer, followed by colorectal cancer (n=46), ovarian cancer (n=42), leukemia/lymphoma (n=38) and lung cancer (n=34), although all types of malignancies were represented. 60.1% received curative and 20.3% palliative treatment, while 19.6% could not specify their treatment intention. 503/663 (n=186 not specified) patients had at least one child with 39.5% being less than 18 years of age. 75.9% (176/232) had received high school education, and 37.1% (151/407) were actively working, while 40.3% (164/407) were incapable of work or on retirement pay (22.6%, 92/407). Half of the patients (50.2%) were Aachen residents, while the other half resided within a 50 km radius. Median number of therapy sessions was 12 (range 1-97). Other treatment specific aspects are still being analysed and will be presented at the meeting. Conclusions: Despite the clear demand for all cancer patients, the majority of cancer patients actively seeking out-patient psycho-oncological support are women with breast cancer, while men and other cancer subtypes are clearly underrepresented. Better information, optimized resources, allocation strategies and comprehensive coverage of PO services are needed in order to address more cancer patients with psycho-social distress.