title: The psychometric properties of the Icelandic version of the distress thermometer and problem list.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While a significant number of cancer patients experience distress only a minority are offered appropriate psychosocial interventions. Untreated distress can interfere with compliance to treatment and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties and feasibility of the Icelandic translation of the distress thermometer (DT) and problem list, a tool developed to screen for distress in cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 149 cancer patients receiving treatment at outpatient oncology clinics at Landspítali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, mean±SD age 59.06 years ±12.92. Participants answered the DT, HADS and GHQ-30, demographic questions and questions regarding the DT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scores on the DT ranged from 0 to 10 with a mean ±SD score of 3.09 ± 2.40, 7.30 ± 4.86 on HADS and 5.28 ± 5.60 on GHQ-30. Significant correlations were between the DT and all categories on the Problem List as well as between the DT and HADS (r = 0.45), and between DT and GHQ-30 (r = 0.57). ROC-analysis supported that a cut-off point of 3 gives the best sensitivity and specificity for the DT predicting depression or anxiety according to the HADS and GHQ. Sixty-nine (48.3%) patients scored < or =2 on DT and 74 (51.7%) scored ≥3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Icelandic version of the DT is a valid instrument to screen for distress in clinical practice. The study adds to a growing literature suggesting that this brief instrument may aid in identifying cancer patients suffering from distress and consequently providing appropriate treatment.
authors: Landspítali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. sgunn@hi.is
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Gunnarsdottir
authors: G H
authors: GH
authors: Thorvaldsdottir
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Fridriksdottir
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Bjarnason
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Sigurdsson
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Skulason
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Smari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating