Psycho-oncological treatment of elderly patients. Wishes for support and first experiences with a group program for elderly male cancer patients

Although most cancer patients are old, only little research has been focused on their specific psychosocial needs and wishes for psycho-oncological interventions. This article gives an update on current research and reports some results from a pilot study which addressed the wishes for psycho-oncological support of elderly cancer patients. The preliminary results of a group program offered to older men with prostate and gastrointestinal cancer are also presented. In the pilot study, a questionnaire was distributed to cancer patients aged 18 years or older, which was designed to assess their wishes to attend different psycho-oncological interventions (FIPA). Patients aged a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand 60 years with prostate or gastrointestinal cancer were offered participation in a 10-session group program. In this pilot study 51.7 % of the 292 participants were aged 60 years or older and 73.5 % expressed the wish to participate in at least one type of psycho-oncological intervention, which was a lower percentage than in the younger patients. Additionally, 28.5 % expressed the wish to participate in a group program. In the subsequent study, aimed at evaluation of the group program, only 51 (10.8 %) out of 493 patients agreed to participate. Of these 25 were randomized to participate in the group program and 26 to the control group (treatment as usual). The first 16 participants in the group intervention expressed high levels of satisfaction with the intervention. It seems difficult to motivate older men to participate in a psycho-oncological group program, even if this specifically addresses their age and diagnosis. There are discrepancies between theoretical needs and actual participation.