Psycho-oncology in dermatological practice : Evaluation of need and care structures

Abstract

Psycho-oncological care is amain component of comprehensive oncological care as stated in the National Cancer Plan of the German Federal Government. Correspondingly this goal has been adopted in the strategy of the German Skin Cancer Council. In certified skin cancer centers structural requirements for psycho-oncological care are established. Nevertheless, alarge proportion of skin cancer patients are treated in dermatological practices. Up to now data on psycho-oncological care in dermatological practices are missing. We conducted adescriptive cross-sectional written survey on psycho-oncological care in dermatological practices from October 2016 to February 2017. In all, 171 practices completed the questionnaire; 19.4% of these practices have an oncological focus. The mean number of treated skin cancer patients was 554.3 ± 659.1 and 62.4 ± 73.6 for melanoma patients. Dermatologists estimated alow proportion (≤5%) of patients with need for psycho-oncological care; however, 21.9% of practices actively offer information on psycho-oncological programs and 26.1% cooperate with psycho-oncological care providers. Interest in psycho-oncological care concepts was stated by 29.3%. Psycho-oncological care is only occasionally and partly deficiently provided in dermatological practices including referral to psycho-oncological care professionals. The results emphasize the necessity to raise awareness regarding psycho-oncological needs of skin cancer patients and to integrate psycho-oncological counselling into clinical routine in dermatological practices.