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Introduction
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January 2010 - December 2011
January 2003 - December 2008
Publications
Publications (405)
Cancer is associated with numerous physical and psychosocial burdens. It poses a variety of challenges for those affected, which must be processed and overcome during the course of the disease. The aim of coping with the disease is to adapt to the changed life situation. Both individual self-help strategies and organized self-help services can play...
Background
The EORTC QLQ-BR23, published in 1996, was one of the first disease-specific questionnaires to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with breast cancer (BC). In the last decades, major changes in BC treatment have occurred, requiring an update of this module. The results of the Phase 1–3 of the study were published in...
The standard treatment for most patients with nonmetastatic esophageal cancer (EC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) or radiochemotherapy (nCRT) is surgery. For patients with clinically complete response to neoadjuvant therapy, active surveillance with surgery as needed may be an equivalent option in terms of survival.
In order to be able to off...
Purpose
On average, about 50% of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in addition to conventional cancer treatment. Since there is a high need for information, patients often search for information about CAM and share experiences with peers, especially in self-help groups. In this study, we tested and evaluated an educat...
Zusammenfassung
Mit dem Begriff Fatigue werden Zustände ungewöhnlicher Müdigkeit und Erschöpfung beschrieben, die in Zusammenhang mit verschiedenen körperlichen Erkrankungen, insbesondere bei Krebs, multipler Sklerose, Parkinson und rheumatoider Arthritis, auftreten können. Im Gegensatz zu Erschöpfungszuständen bei Gesunden ist diese Form der Fatig...
Purpose
For patients with clinical complete response of non-metastatic esophageal cancer (EC) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT), the two treatment options obligate postneoadjuvant surgery as the current standard treatment (surgery on principle) versus active surveillance with surgery as needed only in recu...
Purpose
Studies evaluating oncological inpatient rehabilitation rarely include follow-up intervals beyond 6 months and larger proportions of patients other than those with breast cancer. Therefore, this study investigated changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), depression, and fear of progression of patients with breast, colorectal, or p...
Objective
The aim of this study is to (1) identify similarities and differences in psychosocial burdens and support needs experienced by parent, partner and adult‐child caregivers and (2) identify support needs of family caregivers regarding peer support programs.
Methods
Semi‐structured interviews ( n = 30) were conducted with family caregivers o...
For most people affected, cancer is a critical life event that is associated with numerous stresses. In addition to professional psycho-oncological services, self-help offers and exchanges with people who are similarly affected provide important psychosocial support.
The aim of the pilot study is the development, model testing, and evaluation of a...
Purpose
Cancer is a life threatening disease with negative impact on quality of life and psychological well-being. In international studies, one-to-one peer support and counseling have been shown to improve the psychological well-being of cancer patients. In the study presented, we developed and evaluated an innovative program of peer-coaching. In...
Der therapeutische Umgang mit der tumorassoziierten Fatigue orientiert sich an der individuellen Ausprägung des Beschwerdebilds. Auslösende und aufrechterhaltende Faktoren zu mindern sowie vorhandene Kräfte und Ressourcen zu aktivieren sind dabei die zentralen Ziele der Therapie. Nach den jetzigen Kenntnissen bilden nichtmedikamentöse Interventione...
TPS4185
Background: A substantial fraction of patients with esophageal cancer (EC) shows post-neoadjuvant pathological complete response (pCR). Principal esophagectomy after neoadjuvant treatment is the standard of care for all patients. Active surveillance (AS) and surgery as needed may be a treatment alternative for patients with clinical complet...
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) offer a diverse array of potential applications within medical research and clinical practice. In comparative research, they can serve as tools for delineating the trajectories of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) across various cancer types. We undertook a secondary data analysis of a cohort of 1498 hospitaliz...
Purpose: On average, about 40 % of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in addition to conventional oncological treatment. As there is a high need for information, patients search for information about CAM and share also experiences with peers especially in self-help groups. In this study, we tested and evaluated an educ...
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-662-64615-1_4
Purpose
Patients with cancer suffer from a wide range of psychological distress. Nevertheless, in the literature low utilization rates of psychooncological services are reported. Various factors may influence the utilization of professional support during inpatient care. Up to now it is unclear to what extent patients’ attitude towards psychooncolo...
Background
Older primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) patients have an inferior prognosis compared to younger patients because available evidence on best treatment is scarce and treatment delivery is challenging due to comorbidities and reduced performance status. High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HCT-ASCT)...
The S3-guideline on endometrial cancer, first published in April 2018, was reviewed in its entirety between April 2020 and January 2022 and updated. The review was carried out at the request of German Cancer Aid as part of the Oncology Guidelines Program and the lead coordinators were the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG), the Gyn...
The S3-guideline on endometrial cancer, first published in April 2018, was reviewed in its entirety between April 2020 and January 2022 and updated. The review was carried out at the request of German Cancer Aid as part of the Oncology Guidelines Program and the lead coordinators were the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG), the Gyn...
Zusammenfassung
Trotz großer internationaler Unterschiede hat sich das Arbeitsgebiet Psychoonkologie innerhalb der letzten vier Jahrzehnte weltweit sowohl als wissenschaftliche Disziplin als auch als wichtiger Teil der onkologischen Versorgung etabliert. Um einheitliche Qualitätsstandards in der Versorgung umsetzen zu können, ist die professionelle...
Background
Older primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) patients have an inferior prognosis compared to younger patients because available evidence on best treatment is scarce and treatment delivery is challenging due to comorbidities and reduced performance status. High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HCT-ASCT)...
Objective:
More than one in 10 cancer patients care for dependent children. It is unclear whether this status makes a difference in terms of the distress and associated problems they experience, or whether it is linked to differences in the need for or utilization of psychosocial support.
Methods:
Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional German s...
Background
The treatment of esophageal carcinoma (EC) according to current standards is surgery which follows neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) or neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (nRCT). For patients with clinical complete response to nCT/nCRT, active surveillance with surgery only when needed may be an equivalent option in terms of survival.Objectives...
Purpose
Core components of peer-to-peer (PTP) support for cancer survivors include informational, emotional, and psychosocial aspects. Previous literature on peer support in cancer includes both professionally and peer-led support. Our objective was to summarize studies on the effects of non-professionally led PTP support in cancer.
Methods
We per...
Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Die Diagnose einer metastasierten Krebserkrankung ist für betroffene Frauen mit zahlreichen psychischen, körperlichen und sozialen Belastungen verbunden, die im Rahmen bestehender Selbsthilfeangebote häufig nicht ausreichend thematisiert werden können. Vor diesem Hintergrund hat die Frauenselbsthilfe Krebs e. V. ein inn...
Zusammenfassung
Ziel der Studie Im Rahmen des Zentrums für Kompetenzentwicklung in der Krebs-Selbsthilfe am Universitätsklinikum Freiburg wurde eine Analyse des Bedarfs an Schulungen und Fortbildungen unter den Mitgliedsverbänden des Hauses der Krebs-Selbsthilfe (HKSH) durchgeführt.
Methodik Die Online-Befragung erfolgte im Februar bis April 2021 u...
Introduction:
Although cancer self-help groups (CSHGs) have increased in importance in recent years, certain aspects have not yet been sufficiently investigated in studies to date. In particular, little is known about members' experiences in face-to-face peer led CSHGs. This systematic review aims to synthesise qualitative studies documenting pers...
Introduction:
Previous research showed that various factors are associated with the use of complementary medicine (CM) in cancer patients. This study aimed to analyse the expected benefits of CM use in its association with medical, sociodemographic and psychosocial variables.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional survey, we assessed the use of CM, expec...
Objectives:
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a clinically relevant side-effect that impairs cancer survivors after treatment cessation. Exercise interventions have proven effective, however specific exercise modalities remain untested. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of daily fatigue screenings and to show the impact of va...
BACKGROUND
Mobile health (mHealth) tools were developed during the last dec-ades and increasingly used by patients also in cancer care. Scientific research in the development of mobile health services is required in order to meet the various needs of patients and test usability.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to assess patients’ needs, prefere...
Background
Mobile health (mHealth) tools were developed during the past decades and are increasingly used by patients in cancer care too. Scientific research in the development of mHealth services is required in order to meet the various needs of patients and test usability.
Objective
The aim of this study is to assess patients’ needs, preferences...
Even in the first update of the S3 guidelines “Diagnostics, treatment and follow-up care of patients with endometrial cancer” from July 2022 there is still no sure evidence for a disease-specific survival benefit due to oncological follow-up care. Consequently, only a focused medical history and clinical examination are recommended for asymptomatic...
The S3 guideline for psycho-oncological diagnostics, counselling and treatment of adult cancer patients has been revised as part of the Oncology Guideline Program. The recommendations of the guideline are based on the best available evidence deduced from the results of systematic literature research or a systematic expert consensus. Systematic lite...
Zusammenfassung
Die Inzidenz von Krebserkrankungen hat in den westlichen Industrienationen in den letzten Jahrzehnten stetig zugenommen. Die Anzahl der Neuerkrankungen liegt in Deutschland aktuellen Schätzungen zufolge bei ca. 500.000 pro Jahr. Aufgrund der verbesserten Früherkennung sowie der Fortschritte in den Behandlungsmöglichkeiten haben sich...
Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in patients with cancer (CA). The aim was to investigate the degree of fatigue in RA patients as compared to CA patients as well as potential influencing factors on RA-related fatigue. This was a retrospective analyses of two prospective cohort studies that used the EORTC QL...
Advances in cancer treatments mean that 81% of cancer patients under the age of 40 years have a survival of at least 5 years. Therefore, fertility preservation measures prior to potentially gonadotoxic therapies are becoming increasingly important. After diagnosis, prompt patient information is thus essential. Depending on the age of the patient, v...
Ideally, patient-centered trial information material encourages the discussion with the treating physician, and helps patients making trade-offs regarding treatment decisions In a situation of possible equivalent treatment options in terms of overall survival (OS), it can make it easier to weigh up advantages and disadvantages. Preferences for choi...
Background
Health professionals in cancer care are involved in the process of applying for oncological rehabilitation measures. Thus, they can influence the decision-making process at various levels.Objective
Can typical expert attitudes towards oncological rehabilitation measures and attitude profiles be identified?Methods
In a cross-sectional stu...
Objective
Aim of the study was to compare working and non-working patients over a period of 12 months regarding socio-demographic, cancer-specific and mental health parameters.
Methods
This study was conducted as part of a Germany-wide longitudinal survey among 1398 patients in 13 national Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs). The sample used for a...
Objective:
The goal of this study was to investigate barriers to utilisation of cancer rehabilitation by querying a large sample of various professionals in health care with a comprehensive set of barriers.
Methods:
We developed a questionnaire comprising 55 barriers to utilisation of cancer rehabilitation and administered it to four different t...
Objective:
The construct of Patient Competencies (PCs) has been suggested to allow a more comprehensive understanding of cancer patients' abilities to confront emotion- and problem-focused coping tasks arising from the diagnosis, treatment and survivorship of cancer. While providing a reliable and valid measure of PCs, research thus far has not cl...
KliTrotz
tendenziell steigender Antrags- und Bewilligungszahlen zur medizinischen
Rehabilitation stagniert die Anzahl von Anträgen für Leistungen
in Folge einer onkologischen Erkrankung bei Frauen und Männern
(DRV 2020). Nach Deck & Walther (2017) lässt sich dies aus Sicht der
Patient*innen insbesodere auf persönliche, berufliche und organisational...
Dance therapy and dance theatre are innovative interventions for patients with a chronic disease such as cancer. In this pilot study we investigate both how dance theatre as a supportive intervention may influence the mental health and quality of life of male cancer survivors and how participants experience this type of intervention. We used a pre-...
Objective: To explore the role of personality traits in moderating the relation between COVID-19 risk perception and treatment adherence, and between risk perception and psychosocial distress in patients diagnosed with cancer.
Methods: An online survey (n= 1281) was conducted worldwide in seven countries (Austria, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain,...
Outpatient psychosocial cancer counseling represents an important pillar of psycho-oncological care in Germany. Cancer counseling centers (Krebsberatungsstellen, KBS) offer social and psychological counseling for patients, relatives and significant others in all phases of the disease tailored to the needs of those seeking advice. In addition, they...
Purpose:
Influenced in part by research on coping, patient empowerment and self-efficacy, and by patient self-help initiatives, the construct of patient competencies (PC) has been elaborated and later integrated into Germany's National Cancer Plan. As a self-report measure of PC, the Patient Competence Questionnaire 57 (PCQ-57) has only rarely bee...
Zusammenfassung
Ziel der Studie Aus Perspektive verschiedener Expertengruppen, die in der Versorgung onkologisch Erkrankter tätig sind, werden Barrieren bei der Antragstellung zu onkologischen Rehabilitationsmaßnahmen identifiziert. Darauf aufbauend werden Handlungsempfehlungen zur Optimierung abgeleitet. Die Studie wurde von der Deutschen Rentenve...
Background: Approximately 1% of all new cases of breast cancer (BC) occur in men. Care of male BC is largely based on extrapolation from treatment strategies and management of symptoms in women. The impact of BC diagnosis and therapy on Quality of Life (QoL) in women with BC is well documented. Comprehensive, prospective data about QoL in men treat...
Psychoeducation is used in psycho-oncology as an individual or group intervention. It aims to provide information about the disease, to improve coping and psychological well-being, to promote health behavior and stress management as well as to provide social support. Psychoeducation is characterised as a standardised, multimodal and interactive int...
Background: In the innovative seminar “Peer-support and Patient Competence”, which was conceived as a face to face course, we teach various concepts of patient competence and invite patients to report about their illness experience and peer-group activities.
Method: Implementation of a face to face course into a virtual format via video conference...
Die Psychoonkologie ist heute ein integraler Bestandteil der onkologischen Rehabilitation und verfolgt das Ziel, die Krankheitsverarbeitung und die Lebensqualität zu verbessern sowie die Anpassung an die durch die Krankheit veränderte Lebenssituation zu fördern. Dadurch soll die Teilhabe am öffentlichen und sozialen Leben in den verschiedenen Leben...
Künstlerische Therapien sind erlebnis- sowie handlungsorientierte Formen der Psychotherapie, wobei der Begriff der Psychotherapie im Kontext der künstlerischen Therapien nicht im Sinne des Psychotherapeutengesetzes verwendet wird, sondern als ein therapeutischer Zugang zum Patienten. Zentrales therapeutisches Mittel der künstlerischen Therapien sin...
In cooperation with the patient organization Frauenselbsthilfe Krebs e. V. (FSH) an online survey assessing the particular needs of women with metastatic cancer was conducted with the aim to identify and plan additional support programs within the framework of the patient organization. The survey of n = 312 women showed a high level of psychosocial...
Ziel der Studie: In dieser von der Deutschen Rentenversicherung (DRV) Bund geförderten Studie wurden Barrieren bei der Antragstellung zu onkologischen Rehabilitationsleistungen aus Sicht von verschiedenen Expertengruppen untersucht.
Methodik: In einer exploratorischen multizentrischen qualitativen Querschnittsstudie wurden 61 teilstrukturierte Inte...
Purpose
The aims of this examination were to compare cancer patients’ fatigue burden with that of the general population, to identify clinical factors that are associated with fatigue, and to test psychometric properties of the fatigue questionnaire MFI-20 including the short-form MFI-10.
Methods
A sample of 1818 German cancer patients was tested...
Die onkologische Rehabilitation ist ein etabliertes und evidenzbasiertes Verfahren, um die mit einer onkologischen Erkrankung einhergehenden Beeinträchtigungen durch gezielte Behandlungsmaßnahmen soweit wie möglich zu behandeln, den Heilungsprozess und den Wiederaufbau zu unterstützen sowie die soziale und berufliche Teilhabe zu fördern. Trotz der...
Purpose
The aim of the study was to evaluate an outpatient psychoeducational group program for breast cancer patients aimed to improve various psychosocial parameters, enhancing the patients’ competence and reducing fear of recurrence.
Methods
The study is based on a multi-center, non-randomized control group design with three measurement time poi...
Objective
In order to optimize psycho‐oncological care, studies that quantify the extent of distress and identify certain risk groups are needed. Among patients with prostate cancer (PCa), findings on depression and anxiety are limited.
Methods
We analyzed data of PCa patients selected from a German multi‐center study. Depression and anxiety were...
Objective
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in German men and associated with various physical and psychosocial problems. This study investigated the association between mental distress and the subjective need for psychosocial support comparing subgroups of patients with different treatments and disease stages.
Method
We performed an obser...
Background: We aimed to analyze preferred and perceived levels of patients’ involvement in treatment decision-making in a representative sample of cancer patients.
Material and Methods: We conducted a multicenter, epidemiological cross-sectional study with a stratified random sample based on the incidence of cancer diagnoses in Germany. Data were c...
Purpose
Even in cases of positive evidence for complementary medicine (CM) therapies, it is still difficult for cancer patients to identify reputable providers. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a criteria list to provide guidance to cancer patients seeking a reputable CM provider.
Methods
The design combined a literature review, a...
The chapter considers issues where oncologic therapy can lead to partial or complete damage to the gonads (ovaries or testes), thus impairing fertility or reducing the fertile lifespan. We discuss the relatively new discipline of onco-fertility, which considers patients’ psychosocial needs, including sexual health, intimate relationships, and the a...
https://www.esmo.org/guidelines/supportive-and-palliative-care/cancer-related-fatigue
Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund In Selbsthilfegruppen erhalten Betroffene krankheitsspezifische Informationen und psychosoziale Unterstützung aus der Erfahrung Gleichbetroffener. Wichtige Aspekte von Patientenkompetenz wie die Entwicklung einer aktiven ressourcengestützten Krankheitsverarbeitung können gefördert werden. Mitglieder von Selbsthilfegruppe...
Background:
The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-BR23 was one of the first disease-specific questionnaires developed in 1996 to assess quality of life (QoL) in patients with breast cancer (BC). However, since 1996 major changes in BC treatment have occurred, requiring an update of the EORTC BC module. This stu...
Objectives:
Psychosocial distress is common in cancer patients and survivors and encompasses a broad range of concerns and psychological symptoms. The aim of the current study was to identify subgroups of respondents who experience a specific constellation of distress symptoms.
Methods:
This study uses data from a large data base (n = 21 680) of...
Background:
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients is estimated to be approximately 40%. In self-help groups there is a need for information about CAM. This pilot study aimed to develop and evaluate a CAM educational program for cancer self-help groups.
Methods:
The educational program was developed in coop...
Background:
The German Cancer Aid set up a priority research programme with the intention to generate high-quality information based on evidence and to make this information easily accessible for health-care professionals and advisors, researchers, patients, and the general public.
Summary:
The Kompetenznetz Komplementärmedizin in der Onkologie...
Introduction/Background
Oncological therapy may affect women in terms of future reproductive capabilities. The infertility resulting from the treatment of cancer has a great impact on the quality of life. Patients of reproductive age consider a risk for infertility one of the most difficult components of their illness and treatment. The aim of the...
Zusammenfassung
Ziel der Studie Es gibt zahlreiche Belege dafür, dass körperliche Bewegung und Tanztherapie eine positive Wirkung auf Krebspatienten in der Rehabilitation von Krebspatienten haben. Bisher wenig erprobt sind innovative Angebote wie Tanztheater. Es war das Ziel der vorliegenden Pilotstudie zu untersuchen, inwieweit ein Tanztheaterproj...
Selbsthilfegruppen sind in Deutschland ein wichtiges laienbasiertes psychosoziales Angebot von und für Krebspatienten/-innen. Wer greift darauf zurück? Wie hilfreich ist es? Ein Überblick.
Background:
Communication between health care provider and patients in oncology presents challenges. Communication skills training have been frequently developed to address those. Given the complexity of communication training, the choice of outcomes and outcome measures to assess its effectiveness is important. The aim of this paper is to 1) perf...
Objective:
As satisfaction with information received is an important precondition of adherence to treatment in cancer patients, we aimed to examine the level of perceived information, information satisfaction and information needs, and examine the prospective association between information satisfaction and anxiety.
Methods:
In a multicenter stu...
Background: This prospective multicenter study aimed to investigate the courses of positive support (PS) and detrimental interaction (DI), two different aspects of social support, and the relation between social support and psychosocial distress and/or health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a large sample of patients with different cancers.
Meth...
Objective:
The aim of this study was to compare the levels of anxiety and depression in cancer patients with those of the general population, to examine age and gender differences in anxiety and depression, to analyse the impact of several socio-demographic and clinical parameters on anxiety and depression, and to test the age and gender measureme...
