[Acceptance of hospital social work by gynecological oncology patients]

Evaluation of hospital social work.

We investigated in a retrospective study psycho-social implications of disease burden and acceptance of consultation by a social worker in 218 patients (responders [R]) with the five most frequent gynaecological malignancies. Similarly additional 55 oncological patients (non-responders [NR]) with an identical spectrum of malignancies, who had not been counselled by hospital social service, were also investigated using a standardised questionnaire.

The acceptance of consultation by hospital social service was high. 78% of responders considered it beneficial. These estimates were independent of socio-economic background, kind and stage of tumour, and prognosis. Initially 71% did not know about the existence of hospital social service. 82% of non-responders would have wanted a consultation retrospectively. Patients felt that every cancer-patient should be offered a consultation (96% [R]/93% [NR]). Emphasis in consultations was on medical rehabilitation and social law. Questions concerning coping-strategies and individual psycho-social burden followed in third position.

Majority of responders benefited subjectively and objectively from the psycho-social intervention. Vast information deficits were revealed in non-responders. Social work has an important, not substitutable function within the realm of hospital professions.