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Psychosocial distress in oncology: using the distress thermometer for assessing risk classes

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Abstract

Purpose

Cancer patients often suffer for psychological distress, which can compromise their quality of life. Our study aimed to recognize risk classes for the development of psychosocial distress.

Methods

Three hundred seventy-two adult cancer patients were assessed by the Distress Thermometer (DT) and Problem List at the National Cancer Research Centre “Giovanni Paolo II” of Bari. We also compiled a socio-medical and clinical-medical record survey ad hoc for collecting socio-demographic information and clinical variables. To examine the interplay among the different variables and distinguish internally homogeneous subgroups of patients with diverse risks of distress, the RECursive Partitioning and Amalgamation (RECPAM) technique was used.

Results

Most of patients were female and the most frequent diagnosis was breast cancer, followed by gastro-intestinal cancer and hematological cancer. Distress was present in 43% of the sample, with a total of 156 patients with a DT > 5. The RECPAM analysis identified three distinct and homogeneous patient subgroups (RECPAM classes) with different risks of distress: diagnosis, marital status, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status.

Conclusion

The use of the distress thermometer allows clinicians to identify patients with certain characteristics that may increase the risk of developing psychosocial distress. This evaluation can allow timely psychological intervention and improve the patient’s therapeutic program.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge doctors Loredana D’Ambrosio and Silvia Greco for their effort in data collecting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psycho-Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, Viale Orazio Flacco 65, 70124, Bari, BA, Italy

    Claudia Cormio, Francesca Caporale, Fulvia Lagattolla, Andrea Lisi & Giusi Graziano

  2. Palliative Care Unit, San Carlo Hospital, Via Potito Petrone, 85100, Potenza, PZ, Italy

    Roberta Spatuzzi

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  1. Claudia Cormio
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  2. Francesca Caporale
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  3. Roberta Spatuzzi
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  4. Fulvia Lagattolla
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Correspondence to Claudia Cormio.

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Authors declare to have not a financial relationship with the organization that sponsored the research. Authors state to have full control of all primary data and they agree to allow the journal to review their data if requested.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Cormio, C., Caporale, F., Spatuzzi, R. et al. Psychosocial distress in oncology: using the distress thermometer for assessing risk classes. Support Care Cancer 27, 4115–4121 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04694-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04694-4

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