Use of the Distress Thermometer to discern clinically relevant quality of life differences in women with breast cancer

Head, Barbara; Schapmire, Tara; Keeney, Cynthia; Deck, Stacy M.; Studts, Jamie L.; Hermann, Carla; Scharfenberger, Jennifer; Pfeifer, Mark

doi:10.1007/s11136-011-9934-3

Cited by 49 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 47 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Finally, the distress thermometer is primarily a distress screening instrument. Although recent work in breast cancer has shown that moderately to severely distressed patients have significantly lower quality of life than those with mild distress and that the distress thermometer provides a quick and easy screening tool to alert the healthcare team to clinically relevant alterations in patients' quality of life [39], this has not yet been demonstrated in caregivers or in the context of HNC.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological distress in patients and caregivers over the course of radiotherapy for head and neck Cancer

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives Head and neck cancer patients and their caregivers report high rates of psychological distress. High rates of physical symptom burden and the increased need for family members to provide caregiving during treatment may contribute to this distress. Methods This study examined trajectories of patient and caregiver distress over the course of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer as well how patients and caregivers influence each other's distress. Forty-nine head and neck cancer patient-caregiver dyads completed 6 weekly assessments of physical symptoms (MDASI-HN) and distress (e.g., NCCN distress thermometer) over the course of radiotherapy. Results Patient and caregiver distress increased steadily over the course of treatment, peaking at week 5; patients (82% male; 69% Stage 4) and caregivers (90% female) reported significant distress in 77% of cases. Linear mixed models with the patient-caregiver dyad as the unit of analysis showed that increases in patient-rated head and neck specific physical symptoms had a significant (p<.05) time-varying effect on both patient and caregiver distress. Increases in one dyad member's distress levels were also significantly associated with decreases in the other's distress levels over time. Conclusion Findings highlight the adverse impact of patient physical symptoms during radiotherapy on both patient and caregiver distress. They also support a dyadic coping model whereby patients and caregivers manage their distress together as a unit. Overall, dyadic supportive care interventions that focus on controlling patient physical symptoms and that address both patient and caregiver distress are sorely needed in head and neck cancer.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological distress in patients and caregivers over the course of radiotherapy for head and neck Cancer

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Distress is prevalent in women with breast cancer, with reports of multiple physical, psychological, and social needs and a trajectory of worry, stress, and loss (Head et al, 2012). Newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer (stages I–IV) reported a mean distress score of 4.87 (SD = 3.2) (Head et al, 2012); a score of 4 or more indicates moderate to severe distress (National Comprehensive Cancer Network [NCCN], 2014). Distress screening can be difficult to integrate into routine care (Holland, Kelly, & Weinberger, 2010).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Women With Breast Cancer: Self-Reported Distress in Early Survivorship

Lester

Crosthwaite

Stout

et al. 2014

Oncology Nursing Forum

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose/Objectives To identify and compare levels of distress and sources of problems among patients with breast cancer in early survivorship. Design Descriptive, cross-sectional. Setting A National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer center. Sample 100 breast cancer survivors were selected to represent four time points in the cancer trajectory. Methods Distress was self-reported using the Distress Thermometer and its 38-item problem list. Analysis of variance and chi-square analyses were performed as appropriate. Main Research Variables Distress scores, problem reports, and time groups. Findings Participants scored in range of the cutoff of more than 4 (range = 4.1–5.1) from treatment through three months post-treatment. At six months post-treatment, distress levels were significantly lower. Significant differences were found between groups on the total problem list score (p = 0.007) and emotional (p = 0.01) and physical subscale scores (p = 0.003). Conclusions Comparison of groups at different points in the cancer trajectory found similar elevated levels from diagnosis through three months. Distress remained elevated in early survivorship but significantly decreased at six months post-treatment. Implications for Nursing Interventions to reduce or prevent distress may improve outcomes in early survivorship.

show abstract

“…The DT is used to measure psychosocial distress and related problems in cancer patients (see Appendix 1). The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) developed the DT and it is an important part of the routine cancer care recommended in their good practice guidelines [21,25,26]. Permission was given by the NCCN for the use of the DT tool in this research project.…”

Section: Distress Thermometermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This involved suggesting to the Clicker to contact their treating medical practitioner for assistance and referral to an appropriate health care practitioner as necessary. A score of less than four indicated mild distress or 'expected distress' that could be investigated and managed by the SBCN or the breast cancer team [21]. The DT score of four was chosen because this score was used in a community-based telephone helpline for cancer patients and their careers, which is similar to online contact in that the assessor and the patient are not meeting face-to-face [26].…”

Section: Distress Thermometermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Distress extends along a continuum, ranging from common normal feelings of vulnerability, sadness, and fears to problems that can become disabling, such as depression, anxiety, panics, social isolation, and existential and spiritual crisis [16]. " Distress may result from the person's struggle to adjust to or cope with the impact of cancer on their physical, emotional, and social well-being [21]. What is known is that support from others, particularly family and friends, helps to decrease the negative effects of cancer's symptoms and treatments, and that it is important for health professionals to continue to assess for symptom distress and the adequacy of personal support throughout the cancer trajectory [22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Specialist Breast Care Nurse's Role in the Identification and Minimisation of Distress in a Members' Only, Breast Cancer Focused Online Support Community

Witney¹,

Hendricks²,

Cope³

2015

Int J Nurs Clin Pract

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: To show how a specialist breast care nurse (SBCN) can use the distress thermometer to determine an online community member's distress level and then use the information in their posts and blogs to identify the cause(s) and deal with them appropriately. To highlight the use of a structured written emotional expression (SWEE) format online, as a way of minimising distress. Method: A survey of online community members together with analysis of the content of members' posts and blogs to determine whether their distress thermometer score had decreased since the SBCN had been online to deal with member distress. Results: The survey showed that four of the survey participants who completed the survey N=30 had completed a SWEE, been personal messaged by the SBCN about their distress thermometer score and declared that the information and advice they received had been instrumental in decreasing their distress score. It was not possible to identify whether a SWEE made any difference to the Distress Score. Conclusion:The SBCN can use the Distress Thermometer tool online to screen for member distress and deal with this distress through information, advice and support or referral to another health professional. A DT scores should be repeated before and after each of the breast cancer treatment stages so that appropriate interventions can be put in place to minimise or prevent the member's distress. Specialist nurses in other specialised nursing areas can use the distress thermometer to measure and address the problems/issues causing support community members distress. That the content of a SWEE is one way in which members can document and vent about the problems causing their distress and this information can be used by the nurse to put in place appropriate solution or provide advice and support.

show abstract

Use of the Distress Thermometer to discern clinically relevant quality of life differences in women with breast cancer

Abstract: Moderately to severely distressed patients have significantly lower QOL than those with expected or mild distress. The DT provides a quick and easy screening tool to alert the healthcare team to clinically relevant alterations in patients' QOL.

Cited by 49 publications

References 47 publications

Psychological distress in patients and caregivers over the course of radiotherapy for head and neck Cancer

Psychological distress in patients and caregivers over the course of radiotherapy for head and neck Cancer

Women With Breast Cancer: Self-Reported Distress in Early Survivorship

The Specialist Breast Care Nurse's Role in the Identification and Minimisation of Distress in a Members' Only, Breast Cancer Focused Online Support Community

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About