A study about the referral oncological patients to the unit of psycho-oncology according medical criteria ; Estudio sobre la derivación de pacientes oncológicos a la unidad de psico-oncología según criterio médico

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. ; Objetivo: Describir la actividad asistencial de la Unidad de Psico-Oncología, integrada en el Servicio de Hematología y Oncología Médica del Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia durante el periodo 2005-2007. Método: Los pacientes atendidos fueron derivados por su especialista, mediante hoja interconsulta. La recogida de datos fue diaria mediante hoja de trabajo creada para tal fin, incorporando esta información a la base de datos del hospital. Resultados: Se remitieron 450 pacientes en cualquier fase de la enfermedad, lo que representa 7,03% de los pacientes y 103 familiares; la media de edad los pacientes oncológicos, fue de 52,73 años, rango (17-81). El 43% de ...