The role of a radiographer counsellor in a large centre for cancer treatment: a discussion paper based on an audit of the work of a radiographer counsellor.
It is widely accepted that cancer patients have unmet psychosocial needs. There are as yet few guidelines on the appropriate role of a counsellor in centres for cancer treatment. In this study the activities of a radiographer counsellor were audited to try to identify the proportion of patients who would benefit from seeing a counsellor, to estimate the cost of such a service, and to obtain indications of how the effects of counselling could be evaluated. The study suggested that 44% of patients attending for routine radiotherapy have abnormally high levels of anxiety and might benefit from counselling. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is proposed as an objective measure of benefit. Costing and resource allocation are discussed.
Young
J
J
Psychosocial Oncology Group, Mount Vernon Centre for Cancer Treatment, Northwood, Middlesex, UK.
Maher
E J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects