Impact of a Biopsychosocial Screening Program on Clinical and Hospital-Based Outcomes in Cancer

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The integration of a biopsychosocial screening (BPS) program has been proposed by international agencies to better identify and effectively manage unmet needs among patients with cancer. We sought to evaluate the effect of a BPS program on hospital admissions and length of stay (LOS) among a diverse sample of patients with cancer and receiving treatment in Brazil. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed from March 2020 to December 2021. Eligible patients were diagnosed with cancer and were receiving treatment at a private practice in Brazil. Clinical characteristics, participation in the BPS program, hospital admissions, reason, and LOS in hospital were evaluated. We compared the number of hospital admissions and LOS between groups (participation v no participation). T test and Chi-square test were used to test for differences between groups. RESULTS: A total of 1,014 patients were included in the analysis. Baseline clinical characteristics were well balanced between groups (n = 459 patients who participated and n = 555 patients who did not). The median age of patients was 63 years. Breast and hematological cancers were the most common types of cancer; 60% were diagnosed at an advanced disease stage. A smaller proportion of patients who participated in the BPS program were hospitalized compared with patients who did not participate (8% v 32%, P = .001). Patients who participated in the program also spent less days in the hospital compared with patients who did not participate in the program (M = 4.2 days v 9.8 days, P = .001). CONCLUSION: Engagement in a BPS program was associated with reduced hospital admissions and LOS. This study provides novel insight into the potential broader implications of BPS programs for clinical care systems. Future studies are needed to explore the mechanisms behind such associations.

Core and bridge symptoms of demoralization in Chinese female cancer patients: a network analysis

“…During cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, psychological distress can occur on a continuum from normal fear, worry, or sadness to severe anxiety, depression, and existential despair ( 4 ). With the transformation of the traditional medical model into a biopsychosocial medical model, the psychological problems of cancer patients have received increasingly more attention from the medical community ( 5 ). Therefore, how to help female cancer patients maintain a healthy psychological state deserves to be explored more thoroughly.…”

Cancer Care Delivery Innovations for Complex Health Care Systems

“…In the study of Bergerot et al, 3 "The impact of a biopsychosocial screening program on clinical and hospital-based outcomes in cancer," researchers evaluated whether proactive biopsychosocial screening at initial oncology treatment consultation using the distress thermometer, Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PGS-GA) could reduce unplanned hospital admissions and length of stay. Risk classification scoring by the oncology team determined whether intervention was warranted, with interventions led by a psychologist and nutritionist team.…”

Advancing Health Equity Through Quality Cancer Care and Solution-Driven Innovative Interventions: An Introduction to the JCOOP Quality Symposium 2022 Special Series

“…Original research in this issue summarized expertly in the commentary from the recent chairs of the ASCO Quality Care Symposium, Wheeler and Rocque, 4 evaluates innovative, empirically driven approaches for patient reporting of symptom burdens including a pilot study involving remote symptom and biometric monitoring program for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Bergerot et al 5 report the impact of a biopsychosocial screening program on the clinical and hospital-centered outcomes, including major patient- and system-level concerns of admission rates and length of stay, for a cohort of patients in Brazil. Lundquist et al 6 demonstrate the potential to identify baseline characteristics of early-phase clinical trial participants that predict for poor clinical outcomes and highlight an opportunity for targeted supportive care interventions.…”