title: Recommendations for the implementation of distress screening programs in cancer centers: report from the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS), Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW), and Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) joint task force.
abstract: In 2015, the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) Commission on Cancer will require cancer centers to implement screening programs for psychosocial distress as a new criterion for accreditation. A joint task force from the American Psychosocial Oncology Society, the Association of Oncology Social Work, and the Oncology Nursing Society developed consensus-based recommendations to guide the implementation of this requirement. In this review, the authors provide recommendations regarding each of the 6 components necessary to meet the ACoS standard: 1) inclusion of psychosocial representation on the cancer committee, 2) timing of screening, 3) method/mode of screening, 4) tools for screening, 5) assessment and referral, and 6) documentation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Psychiatric Oncology and Behavioral Sciences at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Pirl
authors.forename: Jesse R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fann
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deshields
authors.forename: Caryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fulcher
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Jimmie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazenby
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Meghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Underhill
authors.forename: Deborah K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zabora
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zebrack
authors.forename: Wayne A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bardwell
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D016730:Program Development; D011594:Psychometrics; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: cancer; distress screening; implementation; neoplasms; programs; psychosocial; psychosocial aspects; recommendations; screening; standards