Cancer patient utilisation of psychological care in Germany: The role of attitudes towards seeking help

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Nico Leppin - , University of Marburg (Author)
  • Katharina Nagelschmidt - , University of Marburg (Author)
  • Martin Koch - , University of Marburg (Author)
  • Jorge Riera-Knorrenschild - , University Hospital Gießen and Marburg (Author)
  • Carola Seifart - , University of Marburg (Author)
  • Winfried Rief - , University of Marburg (Author)
  • Antonia Barke - , Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (Author)
  • Pia von Blanckenburg - , University of Marburg (Author)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Even if significantly distressed, many patients with cancer do not seek psychological help. There is growing evidence that attitudes are central barriers for help-seeking, and instruments to assess cancer patients' attitudes towards help-seeking are urgently needed. This study aimed to evaluate the German Attitudes towards Seeking Help after Cancer Scale (ASHCa-G) and investigated the relationship between patients' attitudes and psychological care utilisation.

METHODS: The ASHCa-G was presented to 270 patients with cancer (age 63.0 ± 12.7 years, 44.8% women). Item analyses, principal component analysis and associations with age, social support, help-seeking intention and psychological care utilisation were calculated. A hierarchical logistic regression was performed to ascertain the leading role of attitudes in explaining psychological care utilisation.

RESULTS: Principal component analysis supported a two-component solution, which showed good internal consistency for the positive attitudes (α = 0.80) and negative attitudes (α = 0.75) subscales. The associations with age, distress and help-seeking intention confirmed the validity of the ASHCa-G. Positive attitudes explained most variance of cancer patients' current psychological care utilisation.

CONCLUSION: The ASHCa-G seems to be a reliable and valid questionnaire for assessing attitudes towards seeking psychological help among patients with cancer. Clinical practice might profit from identifying attitudinal barriers that hinder patients with cancer from seeking psychological help.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere13165
JournalEuropean journal of cancer care
Volume28
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2019
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 31571288
Scopus 85073923250

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Counseling, Female, Germany, Help-Seeking Behavior, Humans, Logistic Models, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms/psychology, Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology, Psychological Distress, Psychotherapy, Social Support, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult