Improving community cancer care: Bringing psychosocial support to a private practice

To address the needs of patients presenting to a radiation oncology practice, a psychosocial assessment was integrated into the initial evaluation. This article presents the findings in 902 patients evaluated during a two-year period. Although interventions were clustered around groups with poor prognoses and lower economic background, a considerable number of patients with better outlook and support required or benefited from counseling, education, or referral to community resources. The authors propose that psychosocial assessment and proactive interventions should be part of the initial care of every patient diagnosed with cancer. Partnering with agencies with similar goals puts this approach within reach of private practices. (C) 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.