Psychosocial distress and desire for support among inpatients with skin cancer

Regular assessment of psychosocial distress is an important component of adequate psycho-oncological and social support in cancer patients. To date, relevant studies on skin cancer patients have primarily included individuals with melanoma.

(1) Does the need for psychosocial support vary with the type of skin cancer? (2) Do mentally distressed patients desire support? (3) From the various individuals in the treatment team, whom do patients choose as potential contact person?

Inpatients with skin cancer were asked to self-assess their psychosocial situation using the Hornheide questionnaire. In addition, they were asked about their desire for psychosocial support and the preferred potential contact person.

The need for support among the 116 patients surveyed varied significantly depending on the diagnosis (p = 0.007). However, the direct comparison between patients with melanoma (n = 38; 32.8 %) and squamous cell carcinoma (n = 9; 7.8 %) (p = 0.724) or other types of skin cancer (n = 20; 17.2 %) (p = 0.366) revealed no such difference. The prevalence of psychosocial distress (n = 49; 42.2 %) and the desire for support (n = 20; 17.4 %) showed considerable differences. Patients primarily chose a physician (n = 14/35) or a psychologist (n = 13/35) as potential "go-to" person for their mental distress.

Apart from psychosocial distress, the desire for support should be assessed, and patients should be provided access to additional psychosocial care options. With respect to the need for psychosocial support, it does not seem to be justified to preferentially - or even exclusively - consider melanoma patients in clinical practice and research.