A community-based approach to cancer counselling for patients and carers: a preliminary study

• Published in: Psycho-oncology (Chichester, England) Vol. 20; no. 8; pp. 897 - 901
• Main Authors: Hutchison, Sandy D., Sargeant, Hilary, Morris, Bronwyn A., Hawkes, Anna Louise, Clutton, Samantha, Chambers, Suzanne K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.08.2011; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cancer; Caregivers - psychology; Clinical trials; Community Mental Health Services - methods; Counseling - methods; Counseling psychology; Female; Hotlines; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - psychology; Oncology; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Patient Satisfaction; Patients; Pilot Projects; psychological intervention; Queensland; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress, Psychological - etiology; Stress, Psychological - therapy; Young Adult; Queensland
• ISSN: 1057-9249; 1099-1611
• DOI: 10.1002/pon.1786

Objective: The delivery of psychological care services to people with cancer and their carers is a key clinical priority that has yet to be broadly implemented. The present study aimed to provide guidance for service provision by describing a community‐based intervention approach; outlining the characteristics, psychological concerns, and distress outcomes for people who utilise the service. Methods: Over a 3‐year period 681 patients and 520 significant others referred from a community‐based Cancer Helpline received tele‐based psychosocial interventions. Results: In this case series presenting problems varied between patients and significant others, with significant others reporting higher levels of distress (p<0.001). Both patients and significant others experienced decreases in distress over the period of the intervention (p<0.001). Conclusions: This study provides level IV evidence that the tele‐based intervention for cancer‐related distress is an effective approach to service delivery. A randomised control trial is currently underway to assess the effectiveness of this approach. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.