Oncology clinicians’ empathy association with mean number of visits and referrals to psychosocial oncology services.

e24125 Background: Referrals to psychosocial services is not standardized despite national mandates for distress screening and embedded psychological services. Nationally, approximately 3% of patients with cancer are ultimately referred to dedicated psychological/psychiatric services. This study evaluated oncologists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practice, racial biases, and empathy along with discreet numbers of patients seen, followed up in clinic, and referred to an academic medical center’s dedicated psychosocial service. Methods: Oncologists and Advance Practice Providers at a single institution were sent questionnaires containing Knowledge/Attitudes/Behavior (KAPb), Racial Colorblindness (COBRAS), and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) empathy scales. Demographic and practice data were collected such as age, licensure (physician versus APP), years in practice/career stage, race, sex, discreet number of patients seen (18 months duration of study), number of visits, and referrals to psychosocial oncology service. Descriptive and inferential s