Simone Lubowitzki MA, Dr. Elisabeth Zeilinger, Prof. Dr. Alexander Gaiger

Winning project 2021/2022 “Integration of initial and transitional psycho-oncology care in the outpatient setting”.

The current project at the Outpatient Clinic for Oncology and Hematology at the Medical University of Vienna aims to record psychosocial stress using standardized, established screening procedures and to integrate it into medical treatment.

Thus, psychologically stressed outpatients should be offered on-site psycho-oncological counseling. This is intended to intercept acute crises, clarify the need for longer-term psycho-oncological treatment, and provide bridging care until referrals can be made to private practice or special care facilities.

The award money will be used to integrate two part-time psychosocial professionals into the team for at least one year, who could provide psycho-oncology diagnosis and treatment. In addition, at least one person in training will be given an opportunity to work within the project, thus contributing to the high-quality training of young psycho-oncological professionals and thus to the future availability of qualified professionals in this field.

“Psycho-oncological treatment places in private practice are often associated with long waiting times. During this period, mental health can deteriorate drastically and thus affect the patient’s quality of life, compliance and chances of survival,” says the team led by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Alexander Gaiger, summarizing the problem.

AT-NON-01500, Created October 2023