title: Use of the Distress Thermometer to discern clinically relevant quality of life differences in women with breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore the ability of Distress Thermometer (DT) scores to discern important differences in quality of life scores among women with breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The National Comprehensive Cancer Network's DT, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), and a demographic questionnaire were completed by 111 women recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients considered moderately to severely distressed (score ≥ 4 on DT) scored significantly lower on FACT-B QOL scales and subscales when compared to those in the group scoring 3 or below. For those scales for which minimally important differences (MIDs) have been established, differences between the two groups were 2-3 and a half times the established MID.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderately to severely distressed patients have significantly lower QOL than those with expected or mild distress. The DT provides a quick and easy screening tool to alert the healthcare team to clinically relevant alterations in patients' QOL.
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA. barbara.head@louisville.edu
authors.forename: Barbara Anderson
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Head
authors.forename: Tara J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Schapmire
authors.forename: Cynthia Ellis
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Keeney
authors.forename: Stacy M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Deck
authors.forename: Jamie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Studts
authors.forename: Carla P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Scharfenberger
authors.forename: Mark Paul
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires