Demographic characteristics of patients using a fully integrated psychosocial support service for cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Psychosocial support services are an important component of modern cancer treatment. A major challenge for all psychosocial services is the achievement of equity of use. Previous studies in the UK have found that women of higher socio-economic status with breast cancer were over-represented amongst those accessing support services. People with other cancer diagnoses, those from socio-economically deprived areas, and men, were under-represented.


RESULTS
The Oncology Health Service, Kingston Upon Hull, UK, delivers fully integrated psychosocial support and interventions. To assess equity of access in this service, a cross-sectional study of all patients with cancer accessing the service during a 5 day period was carried out. One hundred and forty-five patients attended. Forty four percent were male, and the types of cancer were broadly in the proportions expected on the basis of population prevalence (breast cancer 22%, colorectal cancer 21%, lung cancer 16%). Sixty six percent came from the three most deprived quintiles of the Townsend deprivation Index.


CONCLUSIONS
The fully integrated Oncology Health Service in Hull is accessed by a more diverse range of patients than previously reported for other services, and is an example of a model of service by which socially equitable use of psychosocial support in the National Health Service might be achieved.
Sharp
Donald M
DM
The Institute of Rehabilitation, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, 215 Anlaby Rd, Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, HU3 2PG, UK. d.m.sharp@hull.ac.uk.
Walker
Mary B
MB
Bateman
Julie S
JS
Braid
Fiona
F
Hebblewhite
Claire
C
Hope
Teresa
T
Lines
Michael
M
Walker
Andrew A
AA
Walker
Leslie G
LG