Final answer:
Direct service workers are professionals who provide support to individuals in need of services in various fields and focus on patients in healthcare settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Direct service workers are professionals who are primarily engaged in providing assistance and support to an individual or group in need. Their focus is on establishing and maintaining close contact and interaction with the recipients of their services. This can vary based on the field they work in. Examples can range from healthcare professions, where the clients are typically referred to as patients, to education, where individuals are usually called students, to customer service roles in various businesses.
In the context of the information provided about a medical researcher interviewing cancer patients and a high school counselor selecting students, the best match for the term 'direct services workers' would be the one dealing with individuals in a care or supportive capacity, often with a more personalized and hands-on approach. Considering these aspects, the correct choice from the options given would be patients. Direct service workers in healthcare settings like hospitals would focus on patients, who are the direct recipients of their services.