Systematic screening for distress in oncology practice using the Distress Barometer: the impact on referrals to psychosocial care
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study evaluates how patterns of psychosocial referral of patients with elevated distress differ in a 'systematic screening for distress' condition versus a 'usual practice' condition in ambulatory oncology practice. METHODS: The psychosocial referral process in a 2-week usual practice (N=278) condition was compared with a 2-week 'using the Distress Barometer as a screening instrument' (N=304) condition in an outpatient clinic with seven consulting oncologists. RESULTS: Out of all distressed patients in the usual practice condition, only 5.5% of patients detected with distress were actually referred to psychosocial counselling, compared with 69.1% of patients detected with distress in the condition with systematic screening using the Distress Barometer. Only 3.7% of patients detected with distress in the usual practice condition finally accepted this referral, compared with 27.6% of patients detected with distress in the screening condition. CONCLUSIONS: Using the Distress Barometer as a self-report screening instrument prior to oncological consultation optimises detection of elevated distress in patients, and this results in a higher number of performed and accepted referrals, but cannot by itself guarantee actual psychosocial referral or acceptance of referral. There is not only a problem of poor detection of distress in cancer patients but also a need for better decision-making and communication between oncologists and patients about this issue.
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A study of screening for psychological distress among cancer patients revealed that screening increased the number of distressed patients who accepted psychological treatment when referred (Bauwens et al., 2014).
“which is consistent with a study of screening for psychological distress among cancer patients which revealed that screening increased the number of distressed patients who accepted psychological treatment when referred (Bauwens et al., 2014).”
From Internet-delivered Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for anxiety and depression in cancer survivors: Predictors of treatment response (2021) · cites this paper as Bauwens et al., 2014
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“…have requested help with managing their symptoms, which is consistent with a study of screening for psychological distress among cancer patients which revealed that screening increased the number of distressed patients who accepted psychological treatment when referred (Bauwens et al., 2014).”
ResultMausbach, B. T., Bos, T., & Irwin, S. A. (2018) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/hea0000670 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bauwens, S., Baillon, C., Distelmans, W., & Theuns, P.
- Affiliations
- Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (BE)
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Bauwens, Sabien
- ORCID
- Theuns, Peter
- Venue
- Psycho-Oncology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-01-24
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 804-811
- ISSN
- 1057-9249 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-1611
- OpenAlex
- W1694125498
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 2.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psycho-Oncology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- 'Nationaal Kankerplan' by Belgian Government
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
- Keywords
- distress screening, cancer patients, psychosocial counseling, referral acceptance, outpatient oncology, self-report screening instruments, oncologist-patient communication
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Anxiety, Depression, Female, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Male, Mass Screening, Medical Oncology, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Practice Patterns, Physicians', Surveys and Questionnaires, Referral and Consultation, Socioeconomic Factors, Stress, Psychological
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