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Journal of Psychosomatic Research Jul 2013Several practice guidelines recommend routine screening for psychological distress in cancer care. The objective was to evaluate the effect of screening cancer patients... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Several practice guidelines recommend routine screening for psychological distress in cancer care. The objective was to evaluate the effect of screening cancer patients for psychological distress by assessing the (1) effectiveness of interventions to reduce distress among patients identified as distressed; and (2) effects of screening for distress on distress outcomes.
METHODS
CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, ISI, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS databases were searched through April 6, 2011 with manual searches of 45 relevant journals, reference list review, citation tracking of included articles, and trial registry reviews through June 30, 2012. Articles in any language on cancer patients were included if they (1) compared treatment for patients with psychological distress to placebo or usual care in a randomized controlled trial (RCT); or (2) assessed the effect of screening on psychological distress in a RCT.
RESULTS
There were 14 eligible RCTs for treatment of distress, and 1 RCT on the effects of screening on patient distress. Pharmacological, psychotherapy and collaborative care interventions generally reduced distress with small to moderate effects. One study investigated effects of screening for distress on psychological outcomes, and it found no improvement.
CONCLUSION
Treatment studies reported modest improvement in distress symptoms, but only a single eligible study was found on the effects of screening cancer patients for distress, and distress did not improve in screened patients versus those receiving usual care. Because of the lack of evidence of beneficial effects of screening cancer patients for distress, it is premature to recommend or mandate implementation of routine screening.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasms; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 23751231
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.01.012 -
BMC Nursing May 2023Advanced knowledge, technology, and treatment approaches resulted in longer survival rates for patients suffering from chronic diseases. However, symptoms of these...
BACKGROUND
Advanced knowledge, technology, and treatment approaches resulted in longer survival rates for patients suffering from chronic diseases. However, symptoms of these diseases persist and affect the individual's entire life and normal functioning.
AIM
To assess symptoms prevalence, severity, distress, and management among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), chronic heart failure (CHF), and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Oman.
DESIGN
A descriptive cross-sectional design was used.
SAMPLE AND SETTINGS
The study sample comprised 340 participants who were recruited between May and December 2021 from two referral hospitals and one large dialysis unit in the Sultanate of Oman, Muscat Governate using a convenience sampling technique.
RESULTS
The highly prevalent symptoms among patients with selected chronic diseases were lack of energy (60.9%), pain (57.4%), numbness (53.2%), difficulty sleeping (49.4%), and shortness of breath (45.9%). The most severe symptoms were shortness of breath (53.2%), problems with urination (51.9%), constipation (50.8%), difficulty sleeping (49.7%), and pain (46.2%). The symptom "problems with sexual interests or activity" was found to be the most frequently occurring and highly distressing symptom out of all reported symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS
The current study's findings showed that symptoms were prevalent and that some symptoms were frequent, severe, and highly distressing. In addition, patients perceived symptom treatment as inadequate. Psychological symptoms received less treatment attention compared with physical symptoms. One of the mainstays for managing symptoms can be the introduction of palliative care. Providing palliative care to these patients can alleviate their suffering and improve their quality of life. In addition, designing chronic disease self-management programmes can make a difference in patients' life.
PubMed: 37149599
DOI: 10.1186/s12912-023-01296-8 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2020One of the most essential components of end-of-life (EOL) care for neonates is assessing and addressing distressing symptoms. There is limited evidence to guide neonatal... (Review)
Review
One of the most essential components of end-of-life (EOL) care for neonates is assessing and addressing distressing symptoms. There is limited evidence to guide neonatal EOL symptom management and therefore significant variety in treatment (1-4). EOL neonatal palliative care should include identifying and relieving distressing symptoms. Symptoms to manage at neonatal EOL may include pain using both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic comfort measures, respiratory distress, secretions, agitation and neurologic symptoms, nutrition and gastrointestinal distress, and skin care. Also of equal importance is communication surrounding familial existential distress and psychosocial care (1, 5-7). Institutions should implement a guideline for neonatal EOL care as guidelines have been shown to decrease variability of interventions and increase use of pharmacologic symptom management (4). Providers should consult with palliative care teams if available for added multidisciplinary support for family and staff, which has been shown to enhance EOL care in neonates (8, 9).
PubMed: 33072678
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.574180 -
Acoustic Correlates and Adult Perceptions of Distress in Infant Speech-Like Vocalizations and Cries.Frontiers in Psychology 2019Prior research has not evaluated acoustic features contributing to perception of human infant vocal distress or lack thereof on a continuum. The present research...
Prior research has not evaluated acoustic features contributing to perception of human infant vocal distress or lack thereof on a continuum. The present research evaluates perception of infant vocalizations along a continuum ranging from the most prototypical intensely distressful cry sounds ("wails") to the most prototypical of infant sounds that typically express no distress (non-distress "vocants"). Wails are deemed little if at all related to speech while vocants are taken to be clear precursors to speech. We selected prototypical exemplars of utterances representing the whole continuum from 0 and 1 month-olds. In this initial study of the continuum, our goals are to determine (1) listener agreement on level of vocal distress across the continuum, (2) acoustic parameters predicting ratings of distress, (3) the extent to which individual listeners maintain or change their acoustic criteria for distress judgments across the study, (4) the extent to which different listeners use similar or different acoustic criteria to make judgments, and (5) the role of short-term experience among the listeners in judgments of infant vocalization distress. Results indicated that (1) both inter-rater and intra-rater listener agreement on degree of vocal distress was high, (2) the best predictors of vocal distress were number of vibratory regimes within utterances, utterance duration, spectral ratio (spectral concentration) in vibratory regimes within utterances, and mean pitch, (3) individual listeners significantly modified their acoustic criteria for distress judgments across the 10 trial blocks, (4) different listeners, while showing overall similarities in ratings of the 42 stimuli, also showed significant differences in acoustic criteria used in assigning the ratings of vocal distress, and (5) listeners who were both experienced and inexperienced in infant vocalizations coding showed high agreement in rating level of distress, but differed in the extent to which they relied on the different acoustic cues in making the ratings. The study provides clearer characterization of vocal distress expression in infants based on acoustic parameters and a new perspective on active adult perception of infant vocalizations. The results also highlight the importance of vibratory regime segmentation and analysis in acoustically based research on infant vocalizations and their perception.
PubMed: 31191389
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01154 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2021The study investigated the influence of resilience and dispositional optimism on, first, emotional distress and, second, the intention to self-isolate, experienced by...
Influence of Resilience and Optimism on Distress and Intention to Self-Isolate: Contrasting Lower and Higher COVID-19 Illness Risk Samples From an Extended Health Belief Model.
The study investigated the influence of resilience and dispositional optimism on, first, emotional distress and, second, the intention to self-isolate, experienced by people with a lower and higher illness risk, during the lockdown imposed in Spain during the first COVID-19 wave. These effects were investigated against the background of the Health Belief Model (HBM). A convenience sample of = 325 participants completed an online survey including an questionnaire measuring the HBM core factors: Perceived health threat (susceptibility and severity of getting infected), and perceived quarantine benefits and costs. Self-efficacy and perceived social pressure were also measured. Based on reviews regarding pandemic outbreaks, quarantine benefits were conceptualized as the perceived effectiveness and solidary contribution of self-isolating in line with the quarantine protocols. Quarantine "psychosocial" costs were conceptualized as a composite of perceived boredom, loneliness, and economic concerns. Findings revealed an asymmetrical pattern of results so that (i) people at higher risk were more distressed by the perceived severity of getting infected whereas people at lower risk were more distressed by the psychosocial costs. Moreover, (ii) resilience and optimism were more "protective" against distress within the lower and higher risk groups, respectively. In addition, (iii) quarantine benefits and self-efficacy promoted the intention to self-isolate within both groups. However, (iv) optimism hindered such intention. This finding is discussed in the light of links between dispositional optimism and optimistic bias; the underestimation of experiencing negative events, which can relax the perceived health risk. Based on these findings, communication campaigns should prioritize information about the effectiveness of the implemented preventive behaviors rather than the costs of not implementing them, and be cautionary in encouraging excessive optimism.
PubMed: 34108919
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.662395 -
Palliative & Supportive Care Jun 2022Existing research on psychological distress and mental health service utilization has focused on common types of solid tumor cancers, leaving significant gaps in our...
CONTEXT
Existing research on psychological distress and mental health service utilization has focused on common types of solid tumor cancers, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of patients experiencing rare forms of hematologic cancers.
OBJECTIVE
To examine distress, quality of life, and mental health service utilization among patients with aggressive, refractory B-cell lymphomas.
METHOD
Patients ( = 26) with B-cell lymphomas that relapsed after first- or second-line treatment completed self-report measures of distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and quality of life (Short-Form Health Survey, SF-12). Patients also reported whether they had utilized mental health treatment since their cancer diagnosis.
RESULTS
Approximately 42% ( = 11) of patients reported elevated levels of psychological distress. Of patients with elevated distress, only one quarter (27.2%; = 3) received mental health treatment, while more than half did not receive mental health treatment (54.5%; = 6), and 18.1% ( = 2) did not want treatment. Patients with elevated distress reported lower mental quality of life than patients without elevated distress [ (1, 25) = 15.32, = 0.001].
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESULTS
A significant proportion of patients with advanced, progressive, B-cell lymphomas may experience elevated levels of distress. Yet, few of these distressed patients receive mental health treatment. Findings highlight the need to better identify and address barriers to mental health service utilization among patients with B-cell lymphoma, including among distressed patients who decline treatment.
Topics: Humans; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Mental Health; Mental Health Services; Neoplasms; Psychological Distress; Quality of Life; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 35713350
DOI: 10.1017/S1478951521001164 -
Quality of Life Research : An... Dec 2020In this study, we examined distress levels and quality of life (QoL) of patients with hematologic malignancies under treatment in an acute setting. We used external- and...
Quality of life and distress assessed with self and external assessment screening tools in patients with hematologic malignancies attending treatment in an acute hospital.
PURPOSE
In this study, we examined distress levels and quality of life (QoL) of patients with hematologic malignancies under treatment in an acute setting. We used external- and self-assessment instruments for distress. Additionally, we investigated the relation between distress and QoL as well as whether highly distressed patients differed from less distressed patients concerning their QoL.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study with patients of the Medical Clinic II of the University Hospital Frankfurt was conducted. One hundred and nine patients were assessed with an expert rating scale and completed self-report questionnaires. Data were exploratively analyzed and group comparisons between patients who scored above the cut-off of the respective screening instruments and those who did not were conducted.
RESULTS
Patients with hematologic malignancies experience high levels of distress and low QoL. Especially, role and social functioning are affected. Patients suffer most from fatigue, appetite loss, and insomnia. Using established cut-offs, all screening instruments were able to differentiate between patients regarding distress and QoL. Patients scoring above the cut-off were significantly more distressed and had a lower QoL. There was a medium-to-strong correlation between distress and QoL indicators.
CONCLUSION
Cancer-specific screening instruments seem to be able to identify treatment needs more specifically. They also allowed a better differentiation concerning QoL. The close link between distress and QoL needs to be recognized to enable a holistic approach to treatment and thereby optimize the quality of treatment.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hematologic Neoplasms; Hospitals; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 32815114
DOI: 10.1007/s11136-020-02602-6 -
Supportive Care in Cancer : Official... Jan 2022Suicidality and suicidal ideation (SI) in oncology has long been an underestimated danger. Although there are cancer-specific distress screening tools available, none of...
PURPOSE
Suicidality and suicidal ideation (SI) in oncology has long been an underestimated danger. Although there are cancer-specific distress screening tools available, none of these specifically incorporates items for SI. We examined the prevalence of SI in cancer patients, investigated the relation between SI and distress, and tried to identify additional associated factors.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study with patients treated for cancer in a primary care hospital was conducted. Psychosocial distress and SI in 226 patients was assessed. An expert rating scale (PO-Bado-SF) and a self-assessment instrument (QSC-R23) were used to measure distress. SI was assessed with item 9 of the PHQ-9. Data was descriptively analyzed, and correlations and group comparisons between clinically distressed and non-distressed patients were calculated.
RESULTS
SI was reported by 15% of patients. Classified as clinically distressed were 24.8% (QSC-R23) to 36.7% (PO-Bado-SF). SI was correlated with externally (r = 0.19, p < 0.001) and self-rated distress (r = 0.31, p < 0.001). Symptoms sufficiently severe for at least a medium major depressive episode were recorded in 23.5% of patients (PHQ-9). Factors associated with SI were feeling bad about oneself, feeling down, depressed, and hopeless, deficits in activities of daily life, psycho-somatic afflictions, social restrictions, and restrictions in daily life. Being in a steady relationship seemed to have a protective effect.
CONCLUSIONS
SI is common in cancer patients. Distress and associated factors are increased in patients with SI. A distress screening with the ability to assess SI could be an important step in prevention, but more research is necessary.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Depressive Disorder, Major; Hospitals; Humans; Neoplasms; Suicidal Ideation
PubMed: 34324058
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06429-w -
Lung Cancer (Auckland, N.Z.) 2010Dyspnea is a common and distressing symptom experienced by 19%-51% of patients with advanced cancer. Higher incidences are reported in patients approaching end of life.... (Review)
Review
Dyspnea is a common and distressing symptom experienced by 19%-51% of patients with advanced cancer. Higher incidences are reported in patients approaching end of life. While the prevalence of dyspnea has been reported to be as frequent as pain in people with lung cancer, less attention has been paid to the distress associated with dyspnea. This review of the literature was undertaken to investigate how dyspnea has been assessed and whether breathlessness in people with lung cancer is distressing. Using a predetermined search strategy and inclusion criteria, 31 primary studies were identified and included in this review. Different outcome measures were used to assess the experience of dyspnea, with domains including intensity, distress, quality of life, qualitative sensation, and prevalence. Overall, the studies report a high prevalence of dyspnea in lung cancer patients, with subjects experiencing a moderate level of dyspnea intensity and interference with activities of daily living. Distress associated with breathing appears to be variable, with some studies reporting dyspnea to be the most distressing sensation, and others reporting lower levels of distress. However, taking into account the prevalence, intensity, and distress of dyspnea, the general consensus appears to be that the experience of dyspnea in people with lung cancer is common, with varying degrees of intensity, but involves considerable unpleasantness. Thus, if dyspnea and pain are both distressing sensations for people with lung cancer, this has potential implications for both clinical and academic areas with regards to both management strategies and further research.
PubMed: 28210113
DOI: 10.2147/LCTT.S14426 -
African Health Sciences Jun 2022Menstruation is a common and normal experience during the reproductive age of adolescent females and if not well managed might expose the female to menstrual distress.
BACKGROUND
Menstruation is a common and normal experience during the reproductive age of adolescent females and if not well managed might expose the female to menstrual distress.
AIM & OBJECTIVES
To determine the menstrual hygiene management practices and menstrual distress among adolescent secondary school girls.
METHODS & MATERIALS
Six hundred participants randomly drawn participated in the study. A structured questionnaire which had two inventories was used to collect data. The first inventory was a self-developed Menstrual Hygiene Management Practices Questionnaire (MHMPQ) (r = 0.71) and the second one was a modified 11-item Menstrual Distress Scale (MDS) (r = 0.74). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
RESULTS
Results showed that menstrual hygiene management practices of the girls were poor and they were very highly distressed. Statistically significant differences were observed in menstrual hygiene management practices among the girls with regard to age, location of residence and occupation of mother and on menstrual distress in relation to occupation of father (p < 0.05). Significant positive relationship between menstrual hygiene management practices and menstrual distress was observed.
CONCLUSION
The findings accentuate the need for a caring atmosphere for menstrual sanitation both at home and in school.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Female; Menstruation; Hygiene; Nigeria; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Cross-Sectional Studies; Schools; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 36407370
DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v22i2.46