Men's Access to Outpatient Psychosocial Cancer Counseling.

BACKGROUND: Men make use of outpatient cancer counseling less commonly than women, even when they stand to benefit from it. METHODS: In a cluster-randomized trial (registered under DRKS00032181), we studied whether measures on multiple levels (information for referring physicians, public information, structural changes, offerings specifically for male patients) over a period of 12 months would be able to increase the percentage of men among patients seeking outpatient cancer counseling (primary endpoint, initial contact; secondary endpoint, all contacts). The intervention effect was quantified by the fitting of generalized linear mixed models to obtain an odds ratio, which was adjusted for cluster structure and for the percentages of first contacts and of all contacts during the 12 months before the start of the intervention. RESULTS: In 12 regions of Germany (6 each in the intervention arm and the control arm), 11 986 people had first contacts with outpatient cancer counseling, 6004 of them during the intervention phase. The percentage accounted for by men was 30.7% in the intervention arm and 25.7% in the control arm, corresponding to a statistically insignificant model-based adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.2 (95% confidence interval [1.0; 1.4], p = 0.08) for the primary endpoint. There were a total of 51 842 counseling sessions (both initial contacts and subsequent contacts), 26 651 of them in the intervention phase. The percentage of these that was accounted for by men was 27.6% in the intervention arm and 22.2% in the control arm; the adjusted OR for this secondary endpoint was 1.3 [1.1; 1.6], p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The targeted implementation of malespecific measures on multiple levels can increase, by a small amount, the percentage of men among persons seeking outpatient cancer counseling.

[The Structural Reform of The Psychotherapy Guidelines in Germany]. / Die neuen Behandlungselemente der Psychotherapiestrukturreform.

OBJECTIVES: Our study investigates how psychotherapists implement and assess the newly introduced elements of the structural reform of the psychotherapy guideline in Germany. METHODS: We asked psychotherapists about their experiences with the structural reform in semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: A total of 37 h of audio material from 41 psychotherapists were available. The interviews showed that acute treatment and relapse prevention are welcomed by psychotherapists. However, due to lack of appointment capacity as well as conceptual barriers, these are rarely used. Concerning psychotherapeutic assessment consultations, the opinions were heterogeneous. CONCLUSION: Individual aspects of the new care elements are assessed positively. However, these can only be implemented to a limited extent and are not sufficient to significantly improve the strained supply situation.

The impact of electronic versus paper-based data capture on data collection logistics and on missing scores in thyroid cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the type of data capture on the time and help needed for collecting patient-reported outcomes as well as on the proportion of missing scores. METHODS: In a multinational prospective study, thyroid cancer patients from 17 countries completed a validated questionnaire measuring quality of life. Electronic data capture was compared to the paper-based approach using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 437 patients were included, of whom 13% used electronic data capture. The relation between data capture and time needed was modified by the emotional functioning of the patients. Those with clinical impairments in that respect needed more time to complete the questionnaire when they used electronic data capture compared to paper and pencil (ORadj 24.0; p = 0.006). This was not the case when patients had sub-threshold emotional problems (ORadj 1.9; p = 0.48). The odds of having the researcher reading the questions out (instead of the patient doing this themselves) (ORadj 0.1; p = 0.01) and of needing any help (ORadj 0.1; p = 0.01) were lower when electronic data capture was used. The proportion of missing scores was equivalent in both groups (ORadj 0.4, p = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of electronic data capture, such as real-time assessment and fewer data entry errors, may come at the price of more time required for data collection when the patients have mental health problems. As this is not uncommon in thyroid cancer, researchers need to choose the type of data capture wisely for their particular research question.

[Psychotherapeutic appointments given by Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in 2019 : An analysis differentiated by appointment type and region]. / Vermittlung der Terminservicestellen Psychotherapie im Jahr 2019 : Eine Auswertung differenziert nach Vermittlungsanliegen und KV-Region.

BACKGROUND: One provision of the Care Provision Strengthening Act in Germany was that psychotherapeutic appointments (psychotherapeutic consultation, acute care, and probatory sessions) are now arranged through the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians organizations. We examined how many appointments were requested and given in 2019, differentiated by appointment type and by city state versus areal state organizations. METHODS: The frequency of requests and appointments made in 2019 were collected from the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians organizations in Germany using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis comprised descriptive evaluations and a Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: Data for appointments were available from 17 and information on requests from 16 Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians organizations. A total of 134,578 appointments were given. The number of granted appointments ranged from 193 to 21,810, revealing substantial differences between the individual organizations. The share of psychotherapeutic consultations among all psychotherapeutic appointments granted amounted to a median of 92%. Per organization, appointments were given for a median of 87% of requests for a psychotherapeutic consultation (range 56-100%), 96% for acute care requests (range 29-100%), and 97% for probatory session requests (range 27-100%) (n = 16, respectively). There were minor differences between city states and areal states in granting acute care and probatory sessions. DISCUSSION: There are deficits both in city state and areal state Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians organizations in terms of granting acute care and probatory sessions. Our results do not allow conclusions about distance to the practices or waiting times.

International Phase IV Field Study for the Reliability and Validity of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Thyroid Cancer Module EORTC QLQ-THY34.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to validate the new European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Thyroid Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-THY34). Methods: We enrolled 437 thyroid cancer patients from 17 countries. One group (n = 303), undergoing treatment or best supportive care, completed the questionnaires at three time points (before therapy [t1], 6 weeks later [t2], and 6 months after t2 [t3]). A second group (survivors ≥2 years after diagnosis, n = 134) completed it at a random baseline time point and a second time 1 week later. We determined internal consistency (using Cronbach's alpha), the scale structure (with confirmatory factor analysis), and discriminant validity (using known-group comparisons). Group 1 data were used to assess responsiveness and group 2 data to determine test-retest reliability using intra-class correlations (ICC). Results: All 34 items fulfilled the criteria to be kept in the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha was >0.70 in 8 of the 9 multi-item scales. All standardized factor loadings exceeded 0.40, confirming the proposed scale structure. The ICC was >0.70 in all scales expressing good test-retest reliability. Differences in scale scores between patients with different histology were >5 points in all scales. In all but one of the pre-specified scales (Dry Mouth), changes over time were ≥|4| points between at least two time points. Conclusion: The EORTC QLQ-THY34 with its 9 multi-item and 8 single-item scales is a reliable and valid tool to measure quality of life in thyroid cancer patients and can be used in future trials and studies.

["It's Left a Bitter Taste" Psychotherapists' Perspectives on the Abolition of the German Assessment Procedure for Outpatient Psychotherapy]. / "Es hat so einen etwas bitteren Beigeschmack" Die Abschaffung des Antrags- und Gutachterverfahrens aus Sicht von Psychotherapeut*innen in der ambulanten Versorgung.

BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH QUESTION: In 2019, the abolition and replacement of the present German assessment procedure for outpatient psychotherapy was resolved and adopted into law. This study examined what psychotherapists think about the new plan. METHODS: We conducted semi-guided interviews with psychotherapists about their experience and opinion of the current psychotherapeutic care situation in Germany. Statements about the assessment procedure were evaluated using qualitative text analyses. We compared the psychotherapists' opinion on the assessment procedure with the psychotherapeutic approach as well as the age group. RESULTS: Of 41 psychotherapists 27 reported their thoughts about the assessment procedure. The following themes could be drawn from their statements: Appreciation as well as criticism of quality control of the procedure, worries about a future loss of economic and treatment certainty, perception that the assessment procedure questions one's competence, disapproval of the low remuneration of the reports, the connection between individual attitudes towards the assessment report and conscientiousness in writing the reports, and the lack of transparency of the legislative initiative. Psychodynamic psychotherapists wanted to keep the assessment procedure slightly more often compared to behavioural psychotherapists; child and youth psychotherapists wanted to keep it more often than psychotherapists for adults. DISCUSSION: Psychotherapists perceive the reform of the assessment procedure as a process with a substantial impact on their current clinical practice as well as their psychotherapeutical identity. To improve the quality and acceptance of the future quality assurance procedure, psychotherapists should be an active part of the development process.

[Outpatient Psychotherapy Before and After the Reform of the Psychotherapy Directive of 2017: Data from Practices with and without Psycho-Oncologic Specialty]. / Zustandekommen von ambulanter Psychotherapie vor und nach der Psychotherapiestrukturreform von 2017 ­ Daten aus Praxen mit und ohne psychoonkologischem Schwerpunkt .

BACKGROUND: The reform of the German psychotherapy directive in 2017 resulted in several changes for non-hospital-based psychotherapists. We examined whether patients received psychotherapy following their initial consultation more frequently after the reform than before. METHODS: Using records from psychotherapy practices in a retrospective cohort study, we investigated the frequency of a psychotherapy after the patients' initial consultation. We compared a time frame of three years before and after the reform. A potential association between reform and psychotherapy received was analysed via logistic regression. RESULTS: Our analysis comprised 1548 records from 9 psychotherapy practices, consisting of 755 records before and 793 records after the reform. Before the reform, 40% (n=303) of the patients who had an initial consultation went on to receive psychotherapy. After the reform, 46% (n=360) of initial consultations were followed by psychotherapy (including acute care). The logistic regression analysis showed a 36% increased probability of receiving psychotherapy after an initial consultation after the reform in comparison to before the reform (odds ratio 1.36 after vs. before reform, 95% confidence interval 1.09 - 1.68). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a higher chance of receiving psychotherapy after an initial consultation after the reform compared to before the reform. Our data do not contain information as to whether the absolute number of psychotherapy appointments in the practices increased after the reform.

[Beyond Content Alone: What Cancer Patients Consider as Important in Professional Psychosocial Support]. / Mehr als Inhalte: Was KrebspatientInnen bei professioneller psychosozialer Unterstützung wichtig ist.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we wanted to find out what cancer patients expect from professional psychosocial support. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. DISCUSSION: 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. CONCLUSION: Both getting information and competence as well as listening and personal conversation are important.