THE GERIATRIC ONCOLOGY PATIENT - AGEISM IN SOCIAL-WORK-PRACTICE

Elderly oncology patients are at risk of being treated inequitably by health care providers due to ageist attitudes and practices. This stud y 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 oncolog y treatment centers between June 1, 1990 and May 31, 1991. Study focus ed on social work practice comparing problems addressed, treatment mod alities utilized and intensity of treatment. Social workers engaged in significantly more individual treatment, had a higher number of patie nt-social worker contacts, and engaged in longer duration of treatment with younger than with older patients. Concomitantly, social workers spent less time addressing significant problems related to adjustment to illness with elderly oncology patients. These findings suggest that social workers may not be effectively helping elderly oncology patien ts cope with important issues of illness and aging.