title: [The Development of Quality Standards for the Psychosocial Outpatient Care of Cancer Patients - Results of a Delphi Survey].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The psychosocial outpatient care of cancer patients and their families is a central element of oncological care. To date, the provision of care to this group is very heterogeneous in terms of the spectrum of services offered and quality of care. The aim of this study was to develop a multidimensional classification of quality standards for psychosocial outpatient cancer counseling.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a study using the Delphi method. 97 experts from more than 10 different fields of action or institutional contexts (e. g. mental health care professionals, cancer societies, self-help groups) were included in 3 rounds of Delphi assessment. Finally, 134 single criteria within 9 quality areas (e. g. staff, range of services, documentation) were generated and evaluated for their relevance, clarity, comprehensiveness and level of obligation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 119 individual criteria (88.8%) achieved consensus within the 3 Delphi rounds. Hereof, 94 were basic criteria (79%) and 25 optional criteria (21%). The highest number of individual criteria referred to the service spectrum (26 individual criteria), documentation (21) as well as staff and accessibility (16 each). Fifteen criteria (11.2%) achieved no consensus and were removed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the first time, criteria for assessing the quality of psychosocial outpatient cancer counseling with expert consensus are available, facilitating the evaluation of psychosocial outpatient cancer counseling.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuhnt
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehnert
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Tumorbiologie an der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Institut für Reha-Forschung und Prävention, Freiburg.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Giesler
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Tumorbiologie an der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Institut für Reha-Forschung und Prävention, Freiburg.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Faust
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Tumorbiologie an der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Institut für Reha-Forschung und Prävention, Freiburg.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weis
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ernst
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010045:Outpatients; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires