gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: The pressure to economize hospital processes led to dramatic changes in surgical hospital politics. Since patients arrive on the surgical wards just the day before the operation is scheduled new strategies for preoperative information management have to be tested. The positive impact of receiving information about disease and treatment has been shown in many clinical studies (e.g Berend et al., 2000). Obviously the current psychosocial programs correspond better with the needs of women than with the needs of men. As reaction to the problems specified above a preoperative hospital information program for cancer patients and their relatives was integrated in our psychological support concept.

Material and methods: All patients with a (prelim.) diagnosis of gastrointestinal – or lung-cancer scheduled for further preoperative diagnostics are invited to a 2-hour-session on general aspects of cancer, surgical treatment and psychosocial support. The information is given by a surgical resident, a nurse and a psychooncologist. About half of the 2 hours is received for patients’ questions. Evaluation: Additional to the general assessment of Quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30, pre-, postoperative, 3, 6, 12 und 24 month after surgery) and psychosocial distress (Hornheider Kurzfragebogen, rev. v. RZLQ), further data (anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, patient-satisfaction) are collected. The comparison is between participants and non-participants.

Summary of results: Of the invited sample about 40% attended the informational sessions, 2/3 of all patients came with their relatives. Male patients participated more frequently than female patients. The reactions of the participants and their relatives after the sessions were very positive. First results on Quality of life (preoperative, postoperative and 3 month after surgery, for participants and non-participants will be presented.

Conclusion: This preoperative information program is (with some effort) manageable: since first results indicate not only a high degree of compliance, but as well an excellent evaluation by the patients and their relatives, we feel encouraged to continue and constantly improve the program beyond the actual funding period (Deutsche Krebshilfe e. V.) as a routine pre-surgical intervention at our surgical hospital.