Use of Follow-Up Psycho-Oncology Consultations in Urological Cancer after Transition from Inpatient to Outpatient Care

Introduction: In urological oncology, the physical and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment post-discharge highlight the importance of follow-up psycho-oncology consultations. This study examines their utilisation and identifies predictors in urological cancer patients after inpatient care. Methods: A prospective, single-centre clinical observational study was conducted. Inpatients with urological cancer and >= 5 points on the Distress Thermometer and/or request for psycho-oncological support were recruited, offered an initial psycho-oncology consultation, and can attend up to five online or on-site appointments within 3 months of discharge. The following variables were collected: socio-demographics, psycho-oncological baseline documentation (PO-BADO), psychosocial distress (Distress Thermometer with problem list), anxiety and depressive symptoms (GAD-2 and PHQ-2), and performance status (ECOG). Results: A total of 501 patients were screened, 139 were included, and 108 were analysed. Twenty five patients used psycho-oncological follow-up care (n = 16 online). The final hierarchical model predicting the use of follow-up psycho-oncological support included the two predictors: age (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90-0.96) and anxiety (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.11-2.44). Conclusion: Nearly 1 in 4 urological cancer patients use follow-up psycho-oncology consultations, mostly online. Predictors for this usage are younger age and higher levels of anxiety. To improve care, (1) online services reduce barriers; (2) older patients require support with these services; and (3) screening specifically for depression is crucial to ensure that follow-up appointments are scheduled as a mandatory part of hospitalisation.