Identification of distress in oncology patients : a comparison of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and a thorough clinical assessment

• Background:Screening is recommended to identify cancer patients with distress,anxiety, and depression. The ability of current methods to identify distress inoncology patients is of high importance.Objective:We compared the HospitalAnxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) with a thorough clinical assessment.Furthermore, we explored the agreement of HADS with clinical assessment outcomesas a function of age, sex, and treatment intention.Methods:One hundredforty-six oncology patients, representing both sexes, different ages (<65/Q65 years),and treatment intention (curative/palliative), completed the HADS before the clinicalassessment. Two study team members (blind to the HADS results) completedclinical assessments of anxiety, depression, and distress analogous to categoriesused in the HADS.Results:The HADS identified 49 participants and the clinicalassessment 71 participants as having anxiety, depression, or distress. The overall agreement between the HADS and the clinical assessment was moderate. The greatest differences were found to be a function of participant sex and age.Agreement between the methods was better for females than for males in relation to distress and anxiety and better for the older (Q65 years) than younger participants in relation to depression. By treatment intention, agreement was equal for alldomains.Conclusion:Especially male and young participants appear to have potential problems that the HADS fails to identify.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Medical Science

Medicinsk vetenskap

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)