Susanne Singer1,2, Erika Kojima1, Jutta Beckerle3, Bernhard Kleining4, Erhard Schneider5, Katrin Reuter6. 1. Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Centre, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany. 2. University Cancer Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany. 3. Psychotherapy Practice, Bonn, Germany. 4. Psychotherapy Practice, Osnabrück, Germany. 5. Psychotherapy Practice, Wangen im Allgäu, Germany. 6. Psychotherapy Practice, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to delineate the challenges that psychotherapists encounter when they treat cancer patients and how they organise their practices to be able to treat them. METHODS: A random sample of certified psychotherapists, licensed by the health authorities, with training in psycho-oncology, was asked to complete a questionnaire covering the following issues: therapists' qualifications, organisation of the practice, dealing with appointment cancellations, financing, and networking. Practices with ≥50% cancer patients in their patient load were defined as "practices specialising in cancer" (PSC) and were compared to practices with a smaller proportion of cancer patients (non-PSC). RESULTS: Of 120 contacted therapists, 83 replied and 77 were eligible. The median waiting time for a first consultation was 10 days in PSC and 14 days in non-PSC (P = .05). Seventy-five of PSC and 56% of non-PSC can offer psychotherapy within 4 weeks. Time spent on dealing with the social problems of the patients was higher in PSC than in non-PSC (P = .04). They spent also more time communicating with other health care professionals such as private practice oncologists (P = .001). Cancer patients need to cancel appointments more frequently than noncancer patients (58% vs 48% cancel ≥1× per quarter). Sixty-six percent of the psychotherapists do not ask for financial reimbursement of these sessions. CONCLUSION: Psychotherapy for cancer patients in the outpatient setting requires different organisation of the practice. Sessions are cancelled more frequently, waiting time is considerably shorter, and psychotherapists communicate more often with other health care providers than in general psychotherapy.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to delineate the challenges that psychotherapists encounter when they treat cancerpatients and how they organise their practices to be able to treat them. METHODS: A random sample of certified psychotherapists, licensed by the health authorities, with training in psycho-oncology, was asked to complete a questionnaire covering the following issues: therapists' qualifications, organisation of the practice, dealing with appointment cancellations, financing, and networking. Practices with ≥50% cancerpatients in their patient load were defined as "practices specialising in cancer" (PSC) and were compared to practices with a smaller proportion of cancerpatients (non-PSC). RESULTS: Of 120 contacted therapists, 83 replied and 77 were eligible. The median waiting time for a first consultation was 10 days in PSC and 14 days in non-PSC (P = .05). Seventy-five of PSC and 56% of non-PSC can offer psychotherapy within 4 weeks. Time spent on dealing with the social problems of the patients was higher in PSC than in non-PSC (P = .04). They spent also more time communicating with other health care professionals such as private practice oncologists (P = .001). Cancerpatients need to cancel appointments more frequently than noncancer patients (58% vs 48% cancel ≥1× per quarter). Sixty-six percent of the psychotherapists do not ask for financial reimbursement of these sessions. CONCLUSION: Psychotherapy for cancerpatients in the outpatient setting requires different organisation of the practice. Sessions are cancelled more frequently, waiting time is considerably shorter, and psychotherapists communicate more often with other health care providers than in general psychotherapy.
Authors: Martin Eichler; Marlene Hechtner; Beatrice Wehler; Roland Buhl; Jan Stratmann; Martin Sebastian; Heinz Schmidberger; Cornelius Kortsik; Ursula Nestle; Hubert Wirtz; Thomas Wehler; Maria Blettner; Susanne Singer Journal: Strahlenther Onkol Date: 2019-07-10 Impact factor: 3.621