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Screening and referral for psychosocial distress in oncologic practice
Author(s) -
Tuinman Marrit A.,
GazendamDonofrio Stacey M.,
HoekstraWeebers Josette E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.23622
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , distress , psychosocial , anxiety , depression (economics) , hospital anxiety and depression scale , physical therapy , psychiatry , clinical psychology , family medicine , economics , macroeconomics
BACKGROUND. The objectives of this study were to validate the Distress Thermometer (DT) in the Netherlands and to examine its correspondence with a 46‐item Problem List, possible risk factors, and the wish for a referral. METHODS. A cross‐sectional group of 277 cancer patients who were treated at 9 hospitals filled in the DT and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and rated the presence and severity of problems (response rate, 49%). RESULTS. Receiver operating characteristic analyses identified an ideal cutoff score of 5 on the DT with a positive predictive value of 39% and a negative predictive value of 95%. The Problem List appeared to be a reliable measure. Five items on the Problem List correlated strongly with the DT, 13 items had a moderately strong correlation, 26 items were correlated weakly, and 2 items were not correlated significantly. Emotional control, nervousness, pain, and physical fitness appeared to contribute independently to the DT score. The percentage of patients scoring ≥5 (n = 118 patients; 43%) who wanted (14%) or maybe wanted (29%) a referral was significantly higher than the percentage of patients with DT scores <5 (5% and 13%, respectively) who wanted or maybe wanted a referral. Intensively treated patients reported more distress than those who only underwent surgery. No other clear risk factors for distress were identified. CONCLUSIONS. The DT appeared to be a good instrument for routine screening and ruling out elevated distress. Emotional and physical problems contributed mainly to distress. Experiencing clinically elevated distress did not necessarily suggest that patients wanted a referral. Screening for distress and the wish for a referral can facilitate providing support for those patients who most need and want it. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.