A study about the referral oncological patients to the unit of psycho-oncology according medical criteria

Abstract

Aim: To describe the welfare activities of the Psycho-oncology Unit, of the Oncology and Hematology Service, University Clinic Hospital Valencia, during the period 2005-2007. Method: Patients were referred by their specialist. Data were collected daily, using a specifically-designed form, and incorporated into the hospital database. Results: 450 patients at all stages of disease, representing 7.03% of patients, and 103 relatives were referred. The mean age of the cancer patients was 52.73 years, (range 17-81 years). 43% of referred patients had breast cancer, representing 1.52% of patients seen at the breast cancer unit. However, the most frequent disease among referred patients was: gastric cancer 8.51%, head and neck cancer 8.08%, and lung cancer 7.48%. Regarding relatives, 23% were family members of a lung cancer patient, 15% breast, 12% genitourinary and leukemia, and 8% colon. With respect to psychological diagnoses, 39.1% were DSM-IV, adjustment disorder represented 48.5%. Relatives principally required counseling and management advice (75% of cases). Conclusions: Patients with difficult tumor to treat and worse prognosis such as gastric, head and neck, and lung cancer were those most referred to the Psychooncology Unit. Adjustment disorder was the most frequent. Relatives of patients with basically femalerelated disease had least demand.