[Needs and utilization of ambulatory psychosocial services by cancer patients--exemplified by the oncologic day clinic].

Needs and acceptance of specific psychosocial care was assessed in a longitudinal study of 224 patients. In an oncologic adult day hospital chemotherapy patients express the strongest need for information and social counselling. Assessment of the need for psychosocial care depends on the sex of the patients, their coping resources, the course of the disease and differs between patients and therapists. With the progression of the disease acceptance of "informal" short contacts demanding little initiative from the patients was higher than of psychotherapy. Conclusions for the ambulatory psychosocial care of cancer patients are discussed.