Exploring Oncologists' Beliefs About Psychosocial Groups

Abstract

The authors investigated the beliefs of medical and radiation oncologists regarding psychosocial groups and their willingness to initiate referrals routinely to such groups. Sixteen of the 20 oncologists responsible for adult care in a geographically defined population of 1 million participated. The survey instrument queried the oncologists regarding the harm or benefit they expected from psychosocial groups and their views about appropriate intervention targets and timing. Although harm to patients was not a major concern, the respondents did not anticipate much benefit either. Benefits were expected during cancer treatment and after existing therapies failed. More than half the oncologists selected depression, anxiety, anger, and compliance with medical treatment as appropriate focuses for psychosocial groups. The authors found that the oncologists were only minimally concerned about the possibility that psychosocial programs would interfere with their treatments. They discuss implications for patient care such as responding to unmet needs and closing service gaps through increased communication as well as directions for research such as the merits of an oncologists' randomization design.