title: What to do with screening for distress scores? Integrating descriptive data into clinical practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Implementation of routine Screening for Distress constitutes a major change in cancer care, with the aim of achieving person-centered care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a cross-sectional descriptive design within a University Tertiary Care Hospital setting, 911 patients from all cancer sites were screened at the time of their first meeting with a nurse navigator who administered a paper questionnaire that included: the Distress Thermometer (DT), the Canadian Problem Checklist (CPC), and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed a mean score of 3.9 on the DT. Fears/worries, coping with the disease, and sleep were the most common problems reported on the CPC. Tiredness was the most prevalent symptom on the ESAS. A final regression model that included anxiety, the total number of problems on the CPC, well-being, and tiredness accounted for almost 50% of the variance of distress. A cutoff score of 5 on the DT together with a cutoff of 5 on the ESAS items represents the best combination of specificity and sensitivity to orient patients on the basis of their reported distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These descriptive data will provide valuable feedback to answer practical questions for the purpose of effectively implementing and managing routine screening in cancer care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Blais
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Laval University, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: St-Hilaire
authors.affiliation: Nursing Faculty, Laval University, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fillion
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Serres
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tremblay
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D064946:Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000451:nursing*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011792:Quebec; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012803:Sick Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult