title: Use of psychosocial services increases after a social worker-mediated intervention in gynecology oncology patients.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the introduction of psychosocial services to gynecologic oncology outpatients by a social worker increases service use. During the initial six weeks (phase I), patients were referred for psychosocial services by clinic staff. During the second six weeks (phase II), a nurse introduced available services to each patient with a brochure. During the final 12 weeks (phase III), a social worker introduced services to each patient. The authors then compared psychosocial service referral rates. The sample included 196 patients. During phase III, the probability of a patient-initiated referral increased 3.4-fold (95 percent confidence interval [CI] [1.1, 10.4], p = .04) compared with baseline; the probability of any referral rose 2.7-fold (95 percent CI [1.1, 6.3], p = .03). The mean time to referral decreased from 79.4 days at baseline to 3.9 days during phase III (p < .001). The phase III intervention was accomplished only in 34 patients (39 percent) because of scheduling conflicts. Of these, eight requested referral, resulting in a 24 percent patient-initiated referral rate after meeting with a social worker. The introduction of psychosocial services by a social worker to gynecologic oncology outpatients increases referral rates and expedites evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Nina R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Kristy K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: McHale
authors.forename: Edwin A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Cheryl C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Saenz
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Plaxe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012947:Social Work; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States