[Which tumor patients profit from interdisciplinary psychoeducation in the framework of a tumor therapy?].
OBJECTIVE
In the following study we investigate which patients gained most by attending 10 psychoeducational lessons on cancer-related topics.


METHODS
A total of N=294 cancer patients participated in the prospective study and were assigned either to the intervention group (IG; N=160) or to the control group (CG; N=134). Psychometric data was collected at the beginning of the course (t0) as well as two (t1) and four months later (t2)


RESULTS
We found a significant decrease in anxiety after two months in the intervention group. The intervention group also was significantly more satisfied with care after two and four months. Particularly the patients with a higher education level and patients suffering from malignancies with a more protracted course such as lymphoma or colon cancer improved by attending the lessons. Breast cancer and female sex turned out to be predictors for the search for information.


CONCLUSIONS
Ten sessions of psychoeducation in the context of interdisciplinary cancer therapy can be an effective intervention at moderate cost.
Gündel
Harald
H
Abteilung Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover. Guendel.Harald@mh-hannover.de
Hümmeler
Verena
V
Lordick
Florian
F
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012803:Sick Role