title: Insights into preferences for psycho-oncology services among women with gynecologic cancer following distress screening.
abstract: Much attention has been given to implementing routine screening programs in cancer care to improve the management of distress following diagnosis. Although patients might screen positive for distress, several studies have found that most then refuse additional psychosocial support. To inform the development of successful models of distress screening, this qualitative study explored preferences for psychosocial care among 18 women diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer who scored at least 4 on the Distress Thermometer (DT). Participants were recruited from a gynecologic oncology outpatient clinic in Newcastle, Australia, and interviewed. Unanimously, participants felt that completing the DT was an integral part of their cancer care. However, half then refused the referral to see a psychologist. These women typically reported that a referral was not needed, because their rating on the DT reflected transient stressors or physical distress. Many also spoke about their need to cope with the challenges they were facing on their own and the extensive social support they already had in place to help them overcome these challenges. In contrast, women who accepted referral to the psychologist often struggled to cope with several losses they felt had existential and long-term effects. Commonly, these women reported not having the social support they needed, managing several concurrent life stressors, and/or not having the repertoire of coping skills they required to "remain afloat." Findings from this study begin to bridge the gap between clinicians' and patients' expectations of how psychosocial services should be used in response to distress screening.
authors.affiliation: From Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Waratah, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour & Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; The ORS Group, Central Coast, Australia; Cancer Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia; and School of Psychology and School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.From Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Waratah, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour & Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; The ORS Group, Central Coast, Australia; Cancer Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia; and School of Psychology and School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Sylvie D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: From Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Waratah, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour & Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; The ORS Group, Central Coast, Australia; Cancer Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia; and School of Psychology and School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: From Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Waratah, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour & Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; The ORS Group, Central Coast, Australia; Cancer Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia; and School of Psychology and School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boyes
authors.affiliation: From Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Waratah, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour & Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; The ORS Group, Central Coast, Australia; Cancer Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia; and School of Psychology and School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.From Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Waratah, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour & Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; The ORS Group, Central Coast, Australia; Cancer Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia; and School of Psychology and School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: From Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Waratah, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour & Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; The ORS Group, Central Coast, Australia; Cancer Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia; and School of Psychology and School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.From Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Waratah, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour & Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; The ORS Group, Central Coast, Australia; Cancer Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia; and School of Psychology and School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: From Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Waratah, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour & Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; The ORS Group, Central Coast, Australia; Cancer Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia; and School of Psychology and School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Proietto
authors.affiliation: From Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Waratah, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour & Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; The ORS Group, Central Coast, Australia; Cancer Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia; and School of Psychology and School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Afaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girgis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological