ERIC Number: EJ1003608
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-May
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0360-7283
EISSN: N/A
Use of Psychosocial Services Increases after a Social Worker-Mediated Intervention in Gynecology Oncology Patients
Abbott, Yuko; Shah, Nina R.; Ward, Kristy K.; McHale, Michael T.; Alvarez, Edwin A.; Saenz, Cheryl C.; Plaxe, Steven C.
Health & Social Work, v38 n2 p113-121 May 2013
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the introduction of psychosocial services to gynecologic oncology outpatients by a social worker increases service use. During the initial six weeks (phase I), patients were referred for psychosocial services by clinic staff. During the second six weeks (phase II), a nurse introduced available services to each patient with a brochure. During the final 12 weeks (phase III), a social worker introduced services to each patient. The authors then compared psychosocial service referral rates. The sample included 196 patients. During phase III, the probability of a patient-initiated referral increased 3.4-fold (95 percent confidence interval [CI] [1.1, 10.4], p = 0.04) compared with baseline; the probability of any referral rose 2.7-fold (95 percent CI [1.1, 6.3], p = 0.03). The mean time to referral decreased from 79.4 days at baseline to 3.9 days during phase III (p less than 0.001). The phase III intervention was accomplished only in 34 patients (39 percent) because of scheduling conflicts. Of these, eight requested referral, resulting in a 24 percent patient-initiated referral rate after meeting with a social worker. The introduction of psychosocial services by a social worker to gynecologic oncology outpatients increases referral rates and expedites evaluation.
Descriptors: Intervention, Probability, Oncology, Social Work, Gynecology, Patients, Referral, Scheduling, Counseling Services, Nurses, Comparative Analysis
Oxford University Press. Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, UK. Tel: +44-1865-353907; Fax: +44-1865-353485; e-mail: jnls.cust.serv@oxfordjournals.org; Web site: http://hsw.oxfordjournals.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A