[Social counseling in outpatient cancer counseling centers : Offers and use by advice-seekers].
BACKGROUND
Outpatient psychosocial cancer care has gained importance in recent years and psychosocial counselling services (PCS) offer a broad spectrum of counselling interventions. Yet there is no published research on PCS legal counselling services. This study investigated the range of issues addressed by legal counselling and their relationship with characteristics of advice seekers and counsellors.


METHODS
We analyzed the records of 21 PCS funded by the German Cancer Aid (DKH) including 5203 advice seekers (80 % patients, 20 % others including friends and family; age ∅ 54 years; 24 % male) in 20,947 counselling sessions. We calculated descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analyses (legal counselling: yes/no).


RESULTS
Fifty-five percent of counselling seekers received legal counselling and 28 % approached the PCS exclusively for legal counselling. The proportion of people seeking legal advice ranged from 15 to 87 % between counselling centers. The most common topics during legal counselling were medical rehabilitation programs (57 %) and disability law (43 %). Counselling occurred in a single session in 68 % of cases and was mostly sought by older and unemployed persons with a recent diagnosis. Legal counselling made up 18 % of counselling time. Legal advice was mostly given by social workers (71 %).


CONCLUSIONS
Legal counselling is a major part of psychosocial care services. Our results reveal large differences between counselling centers. Further research on quality of care and efficacy of legal counseling is needed.
Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universitätsmedizin Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 55, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland. jochen.ernst@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
Jochen
J
Ernst
Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universitätsmedizin Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 55, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland.
Anja
A
Mehnert
Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Klinik für Tumorbiologie, UKF Reha gGmbh Freiburg/Br., Freiburg, Deutschland.
Joachim
J
Weis
Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Klinik für Tumorbiologie, UKF Reha gGmbh Freiburg/Br., Freiburg, Deutschland.
Tanja
T
Faust
Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Klinik für Tumorbiologie, UKF Reha gGmbh Freiburg/Br., Freiburg, Deutschland.
Jürgen M
JM
Giesler
Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universitätsmedizin Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 55, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland.
Julia
J
Roick
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review
Cancer; Health services research; Legal counselling; Outpatient psychosocial cancer care; Psychosocial oncology