[Beyond Content Alone: What Cancer Patients Consider as Important in Professional Psychosocial Support]

In this study we wanted to find out what cancer patients expect from professional psychosocial support.

Within a multicenter prospective study, patients were asked about their expectations from professional psychosocial support two years after diagnosis. Using qualitative methods, categories were built from the answers. The answers were assigned to the categories.

447 patients were contacted and 285 answers were obtained. Getting information as well as interaction with enough time for listening was considered as important. Support should result in enhancement of psychological strength.

Apart from contents, aspects of how support is given such as attention and competence are important. There should be enough time for the consideration of individual needs.

Both getting information and competence as well as listening and personal conversation are important.