A comprehensive psychooncological service was implemented at a hospital for acute care in Herford/Germany (Klinikum Kreis Herford, KKH), supported by the SULO Foundation. The basic conception includes care for patients and relatives as well as psychosocial training for doctors and staff from the very beginning in order to combine ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ strategies. To achieve need-oriented care, the project started with the assessment of the patient’s needs. The results confirm expectations of the patients in psychooncology, in general with respect to support of coping, but also with respect to a close co-operation with the somatic caregivers. Among the particular methods patients want, especially psychosocial aftercare, psychological pain treatment, social counselling as well as groups for relaxation training and rehabilitation sports are rated as important. Need was also assessed in terms of making use of psychooncological care. The basic documentation shows in a 2-year experience (on average with 2 psycho-social caregivers) 1,747 contacts with 516 cancer patients. The main reasons for psychooncological intervention were coping deficits, depressive reactions, anxiety, adaptational disorders, and compliance problems. Overall, it could be clearly confirmed that there is a considerable need for psychosocial care, and cancer patients indeed make use of it.

This content is only available via PDF.
1999
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.