[Psychooncological care for breast cancer patients in hospitals and in the outpatient sector].
BACKGROUND
Psycho-oncological care is nowadays an integral part of patient-oriented health care in oncology. Psycho-oncological services are considered in the formulation of guidelines and the existence of such services is a precondition for the certification of organ centres.


METHODS
For a status quo analysis of psycho-oncological health-care services for breast cancer patients in inpatient and outpatient care, 101 hospitals (inpatient care) and 124 health-care professionals in outpatient psycho-oncological services were questioned by mail.


RESULTS
Psycho-oncological care in the hospital setting is mainly carried out by psychologists and physicians. 2-100% (median: 32.5%) of breast cancer patients receive psycho-oncological treatment. The proportion of psycho-oncological treatment performed by psychologists is higher in bigger hospitals and in hospitals which are part of a breast centre. In outpatient care, psycho-oncological treatment is mainly carried out by psychologists. Most of the interventions are individual therapy sessions (group therapy: median 20%). Most of the participants in the outpatient sector are psychodynamic (43%) or behavioural (23%) therapists, 40% report other therapeutic backgrounds.


CONCLUSIONS
Both the inpatient and the outpatient sectors show a high heterogeneity in psycho-oncological care. The results for the inpatient setting indicate increasing professionalisation and orientation towards certification criteria and treatment guidelines. The heterogeneity in outpatient psycho-oncological care can be interpreted as desirable diversity which allows for the consideration of the varying needs of patients with different diagnoses, disease stages, and treatments.
Bergelt
C
C
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institut und Poliklinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg. bergelt@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Schölermann
C
C
Hahn
I
I
Weis
J
J
Koch
U
U
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003479:Curriculum; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006276:Health Facility Size; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008611:Mentors; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data