title: Healthcare Providers' Perceptions of the Utility of Psychosocial Screening Tools in Childhood Cancer: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the perceptions of healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding the utility of two psychosocial screening tools designed for pediatric oncology, the Psychosocial Assessment Tool-Revised (PATrev) and the Psychosocial Care Checklist (PCCL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeated measures comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four pediatric health centers in Ontario, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  15 oncologists, 14 nurses, and 8 social workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a visual analog scale (VAS), participants were asked to rate how useful they found (a) the psychosocial summary derived from the parent-completed PATrev, used to assess family psychosocial risk, and (b) the HCP-completed PCCL, used to identify family psychosocial needs. Measures were completed soon after diagnosis and six months later. Mann-Whitney U tests were used for analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  VAS scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pediatric oncology HCPs differ in their acceptance of the psychosocial screening tools tested. The highest utility ratings for both instruments were from nurses, and the lowest utility ratings were from social workers; moderate ratings were obtained from oncologists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychosocial screening tools can identify the psychosocial needs of children with cancer and their families throughout the cancer trajectory. Consequently, these tools could foster communication among colleagues (medical and nonmedical) who are caring for children with cancer about the psychosocial needs of this population and the allocation of resources to address those needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses seem to value these tools more than other HCPs, which may have positive implications for their clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Battista
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.affiliation: London Health Sciences Centre at Children's Hospital in London, Ontario.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cataudella
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Punnett
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shama
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
authors.forename: Maru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barrera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D009864:Ontario; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: healthcare provider; pediatric cancer; psychosocial screening