[Interdisciplinary psychoeducational intervention by oncologists proved helpful for cancer patients].

OBJECTIVES

We prospectively evaluated the effects of a six-session psychoeducational intervention held by medical doctors or psychologists in a German acute cancer center setting.

METHODS

A cluster randomization was used to assign n=108 oncologic patients (55 female, 53 male; mean age=58.5) to the intervention or the control group. The self-rated amount of information about cancer-specific topics, quality of life (EORTC), coping (TSK) and anxiety and depression (HAD-S) were measured at the beginning of the intervention (t0) as well as two and four months later (t1).

RESULTS

At t1 the level of information related to different aspects of cancer (p<0.01) and "emotional functioning" (EORTC; p<0.05) were clearly improved in the intervention vs. the control group. At t2 intervention group patients again showed an increased level of information (p<0.05) and more emotional stability (p<0.05). In addition, reduced rumination was seen in patients of the intervention but not the control group (TSK; p=0.01).

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence that even short interdisciplinary psychoeducational interventions can at least improve the level of cancer-related information while hardly denting the budget of any healthcare system.