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. 2009 Dec 15:2:253.
doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-2-253.

Demographic characteristics of patients using a fully integrated psychosocial support service for cancer patients

Donald M Sharp  1 , Mary B Walker, Julie S Bateman, Fiona Braid, Claire Hebblewhite, Teresa Hope, Michael Lines, Andrew A Walker, Leslie G Walker
Affiliations

Demographic characteristics of patients using a fully integrated psychosocial support service for cancer patients

Donald M Sharp et al. BMC Res Notes. .

Abstract

Background: Psychosocial support services are an important component of modern cancer treatment. A major challenge for all psychosocial services is the achievement of equity of use. Previous studies in the UK have found that women of higher socio-economic status with breast cancer were over-represented amongst those accessing support services. People with other cancer diagnoses, those from socio-economically deprived areas, and men, were under-represented.

Findings: The Oncology Health Service, Kingston Upon Hull, UK, delivers fully integrated psychosocial support and interventions. To assess equity of access in this service, a cross-sectional study of all patients with cancer accessing the service during a 5 day period was carried out. One hundred and forty-five patients attended. Forty four percent were male, and the types of cancer were broadly in the proportions expected on the basis of population prevalence (breast cancer 22%, colorectal cancer 21%, lung cancer 16%). Sixty six percent came from the three most deprived quintiles of the Townsend deprivation Index.

Conclusions: The fully integrated Oncology Health Service in Hull is accessed by a more diverse range of patients than previously reported for other services, and is an example of a model of service by which socially equitable use of psychosocial support in the National Health Service might be achieved.

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