Published in:
01-11-2019 | Lung Cancer | Original Article
Use of psychosocial services by lung cancer survivors in Germany
Results of a German multicenter study (LARIS)
Published in: Strahlentherapie und Onkologie | Issue 11/2019
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Purpose
Little is known about the use of psychosocial services in lung cancer survivors and patients who have survived the diagnosis for at least one year. We investigated the frequency of use, stratified by radiation therapy received, its associated factors, and the reasons for non-use of those services.
Methods
We performed a multicenter (n = 6 hospitals) cross-sectional study using data from medical records, patient reported questionnaires, and computer-assisted telephone interviews. Odds ratios (OR) for factors potentially associated with the use of any type of psychosocial services were calculated using multivariable logistic regression.
Results
We included 604 lung cancer patients/survivors. Of them, 60% (69% of those who had received radiotherapy) had used some kind of psychological and/or social service in the past (47% psychological, 42% social); 39% had used inpatient care, 24% outpatient care (cancer counselling center, general counselling center, psychological counselling by family doctor, psychotherapy, patient support group, pastoral work). Of those who visited a rehabilitation clinic, 66% received psychosocial care there. Factors associated with using psychosocial services in general were female gender (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.32–2.93), poor emotional functioning (per unit decrease: OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–0.996), and younger age (per year decrease: OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93–0.97).
Conclusions/implications
The high proportion of psychosocial care users among lung cancer survivors in Germany indicates that patients are interested in using it and that an unmet need exists. The creation of a broad spectrum of easily accessible services with high quality is important to enable and facilitate use.