The Breast Service Psychosocial Model of Care Project

1
The Breast Service Psychosocial Model of Care
Project

• Dr Lauren Williams (Project Coordinator)
• Marg DArcy and Katy Weare (Project Managers)
• Professor Bruce Mann (Breast Surgeon and Director
  of The Breast Service)

2
Background and Objective

• TBS Psychosocial Model of Care Project is a
  service development project that is designed to
  further develop and deliver quality and effective
  psychosocial care to patients attending TBS.

3
Stage One Staff Consultations

• Objective Assess staff perceptions about
  psychosocial referrals and assessment tools, and
  the pathway for assessing and delivering
  psychosocial care.
• Results Staff roles, screening tool, referrals
  and patients psychosocial needs.

4
Stage Two Consumer Consultations

• A series of focus groups and interviews were
  conducted with 13 patients attending The Breast
  Service during different stages of their disease.
• 4 areas Perceptions of TBS, psychosocial
  concerns, feelings towards the assessment tool
  and psychosocial supports.

5
Stage Two Results

• There is nothing to improve. I was quite happy,
  they made you feel as if you were the only one
  they were looking after, I didnt feel like I was
  in a production line, or I was just a number, and
  every time I went back, they remembered my name,
  so it was very warm and welcoming.
• I have experienced anxiety definitely, and
  depression to a lesser degree. If someone starts
  talking about it I just start to cry. It was most
  distressing when I was told that I had to have
  chemo. I was devastated. Then I really knew I had
  it (cancer).
• 61.5 (8) women completed the SCT and reported no
  concerns.
• I didnt feel like I needed to go and talk to
  strangers, I dont want to start crying in front
  of people I dont know and I didnt want to have
  to deal with other people crying to me, I just
  would feel pressured to tell my story.

6
Action!

• Clarification of Staff roles
• Refinement of the psychosocial screening tool
• Multidisciplinary meeting of patients
  psychosocial needs
• Standardised referral pathway and follow-up
• Enhanced/updated knowledge of patients
  psychosocial concerns