Psychosocial Demands of Speech Therapy with Head-and-Neck Cancer Patients: Clinical Experiences, Communicative Skills and Need for Training of Speech Therapists in Oncology

  • Peter Ullrich Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät
  • Dorit Wollbrück Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät
  • Helge Danker Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät
  • Susanne Kuhnt Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät
  • Elmar Brähler Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät
  • Susanne Singer Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät
Keywords: speech therapy, psychosocial oncology, head and neck cancer, training, psychic distress, communication

Abstract

Head and neck cancer patients suffer from high levels of psychological comorbidity and often do not receive adequate psychological assistance. Therefore, speech therapists are frequently confronted with specific psychosocial challenges beyond the scope of their standard professional education. The following aspects were examined via a mixed-methods approach to explore their own perceptions of these challenges and their skills to deal with them: 1) The experiences and problems of speech therapists working with head and neck cancer patients; 2) the self-assessment of speech therapists' skills in cancer patient care; 3) the experiences and observations of psychologists supervising case discussions in oncology with speech therapists; 4) the communication skills of speech therapists working with emotionally distressed patients in oncology Our results show that therapists are acutely aware of their patients' distress. They agree that there is a need for patients to receive psychosocial counseling and that a significant portion of their speech therapy sessions is often dedicated to talking about personal problems. This difficult situation leads to: 1) deficiencies in speech therapists' ability to address patients' demands and deficiencies in distancing themselves from their patients; 2) speech therapists feeling overwhelmed with excessive demands and experiencing mental distress themselves. The psycho-oncological knowledge and communication skills among speech therapists were often deficient in light of such demands. There is a need for further training in psychological and social skills for speech therapists working with head and neck cancer patients. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs1001220

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Author Biographies

Peter Ullrich, Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät
Peter ULLRICH, Dr. phil., Kulturwissenschaftler/Soziologe, Arbeitsschwerpunkte: politische Soziologie (politische Bewegungen, Überwachung, Erinnerung/Antisemitismus/ Nahostkonflikt) und medizinische Soziologie (Prävention und Subjektivierung, Versorgungsforschung)
Dorit Wollbrück, Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät
Dorit WOLLBRÜCK, Dipl.-Psych., Psychoonkologin, Arbeitsschwerpunkte: psychosoziale Onkologie, psychoonkologische Fortbildungen
Helge Danker, Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät
Helge DANKER, Dipl.-Psych., Arbeitsschwerpunkte: Psychoonkologie, ambulante und stationäre psychoonkologische Beratung
Susanne Kuhnt, Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät
Susanne KUHNT, Dipl.-Psych., Kommunikationstrainerin, psychologische Psychotherapeutin in Ausbildung, Arbeitsschwerpunkte: Psychoonkologie (Depressionen nach Krebs, krebsbedingte Fatigue, Gesprächsführung in der Onkologie, psychoonkologische Beratung)
Elmar Brähler, Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät
Elmar BRÄHLER, Prof. Dr. rer. biol. hum. habil., Leiter der Selbständigen Abteilung für medizinische Psychologie und medizinische Soziologie, Forschungsschwerpunkte: Psychodiagnostik, psychologische Aspekte von Fruchtbarkeitsstörungen, Verarbeitung chronischer Erkrankungen, Gesundheit/Krankheit und Gender, gesundheitliche Identität von Migrant/innen, medizin-ethische Fragen in der Reproduktionsmedizin, Arbeitslosigkeit und Gesundheit, Rechtsextremismus, Psychoonkologie
Susanne Singer, Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät
Susanne SINGER, Dr. rer. med., Dipl.-Psych., MSc Epidemiology, Arbeitsschwerpunkte: psychosoziale Onkologie (vor allem im Bereich der HNO-Heilkunde; psychische Komorbidität, Versorgungsforschung, Lebensqualität), Salutogenese
Published
2010-01-30
How to Cite
Ullrich, P., Wollbrück, D., Danker, H., Kuhnt, S., Brähler, E., & Singer, S. (2010). Psychosocial Demands of Speech Therapy with Head-and-Neck Cancer Patients: Clinical Experiences, Communicative Skills and Need for Training of Speech Therapists in Oncology. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-11.1.1369