The Geriatric Oncology Patient

Abstract

Elderly oncology patients are at risk of being treated inequitably by health care providers due to ageist attitudes and prac- tices. This study explores whether ageism exists in oncology social work by comparing practice with 305 adult patients under 65 years old to 197 patients 65 and older. The patients received services in three outpatient oncology treatment centers between June 1, 1990 and May 3 1,1991. Study focused on social work practice comparing problems addressed, treatment modalities utilized and intensity of treatment. Social workers engaged in signiftcantly more individual treatment, had a higher number of patient-social worker contacts, and engaged in longer duration of treatment with younger than with older patients. Concomitantly, social workers spent less time addres- sing significant problems related to adjustment to illness with elderly oncology patients. These findings suggest that social workers may not be effectively helping elderly oncology patients cope with important issues of illness and aging.

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