Assessing Psychosocial and Supportive Care Needs in Patients With Gliomas

The study is undertaken at three German neurosurgical centers (Ulm, Mainz, Stuttgart) between March 2014 and March 2015. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 and ≤ 80, diagnosis of glioma WHO° II-IV, absence of aphasia impairing communication or consent. In an outpatient setting all eligible patients with gliomas were screened for distress (Distress Thermometer (DT)) and their need for psychosocial support (Supportive Care Needs Survey-SF34-G (SCNS)). Simultaneously their HRQoL was assessed (EORTC QLQ-C30+BN-20 Vers. 3). Patients at different disease stages were asked to fill out the questionnaires. At two study centers patients were asked to complete the questionnaires prior to their appointment with personal instructions in randomly selected cases. At the third study center, they completed the questionnaires after their outpatient appointment with personal aid and instructions. At the time of investigation, patients were at different stages of treatment (chemotherapy, radiation, re-chemotherapy, re-radiation, none, etc.).

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Maximum age

80 Years

Inclusion criteria:

* Harboring a glial cerebral tumor (astrocytoma, oligoastrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, glioblastoma), as diagnosed by the local neuro- pathologist in the study Center
* Patient is affiliated with the neuro-oncological outpatient center in one of the three study Centers
* Patient is able to understand and respond to the questions
* Informed consent of the Patient
* Age \>18, \<80 years

Exclusion criteria:

* Absence of inclusion criteria