The authors performed a principal components factor analysis on the 18-item Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18), a new brief screening inventory. The factor analysis, in which four factors were ...specified, is consistent with findings in a previous community sample. The study sample consisted of 1,543 cancer patients who completed the full BSI as part of their entry into care at a regional cancer center. The reliability of the BSI-18 was determined based on the calculation of the internal consistency, mean item scores, and correlations with the total score of the BSI. In addition, sensitivity and specificity was calculated to determine the ability of the BSI-18 to discriminate positive and negative cases. The BSI-18 is a shortened version of the BSI that can serve as a brief psychological screening instrument. The BSI-18 can be incorporated into outpatient clinics to prospectively and rapidly identify cancer patients with elevated levels of distress who are in need of clinical interventions. Early identification of distress with appropriate interventions can reduce distress, enhance quality of life, and decrease health care costs.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
52.
Cancer and Addictions Zabora, James R.; Smith, Elizabeth D.; Seddon, Carole F.
Journal of psychosocial oncology,
10/1992, Volume:
10, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Although often sensationalized in the media, addictive behaviors and co-dependency cause painful dilemmas for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, many people with these disorders also are diagnosed ...with cancer or have a family member with cancer. Addiction and the problematic coping style associated with it are rarely addressed by oncology staff. However, data collected through the Johns Hopkins Cancer Counseling Center indicate that 21 of 36 patients referred for long-term counseling were addicts and that 15 were co-dependent. The authors address the problem of identifying patients and families with these disorders and describe appropriate methods of helping them cope with the added distress caused by the diagnosis of cancer.
Psychological distress is considered to be common as patients with cancer move beyond their diagnosis and into intensive treatment. However, the absolute prevalence of elevated psychological distress ...among patients is reported to be about 30% at the diagnosis and when the disease recurs. In all probability, patients enter their initial experience with cancer with preexisting levels of distress. Without intervention, their level of distress remains elevated, whereas patients with a lower level of distress gradually adapt to the diagnosis and treatment. To target interventions, understanding the relationship between a cancer diagnosis and the level of psychological distress at any point in time is essential. This article describes a study undertaken to determine the prevalence of psychological distress across the disease continuum in a sample of 386 adult cancer patients selected at random from 12 oncology outpatient departments across the United States. Psychological distress was measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory, and quality of life was measured with the Functional Living Index-Cancer. The results indicated that the prevalence of psychological distress did not vary significantly across the disease continuum, with the exception of the terminal phase.
Because minority women remain underusers of mammography screening, strategies to increase preventive health behavior may involve affordable screening as well as cultural determinants. Most studies ...have used a theoretical model inconsistently to assess characteristics, such as attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions about adherence to screening, whereas other studies have lacked sociocultural dimensions that may be relevant in promoting repeat screening in certain populations. This two-phase study examined adherence to mammography screening among 150 African-American women aged 40 to 49 years who had received one to five mammograms. Phase I included an elicitation procedure, a focus group, and pretests as steps in constructing a telephone interview. In Phase II, 150 telephone interviews were completed. Women's intentions regarding repeat mammography screening were assessed using the theory of planned behavior, expanded to include socio-cultural, religious, and psychological variables. Only the attitude and perceived behavioral control components of the theory explained the women's intentions. In the expanded model, a positive previous experience with mammography, low income and educational level, positive beliefs about breast health, and lack of trust in health care providers explained increased intention to have another mammogram. The study's clinical and policy implications were positive: When low-income African-American women are exposed to screening programs that provide positive experiences with mammography and include a strong component to enhance adherence, their intention to seek repeat screening increases. This level of health care needs to be adopted as standard practice for optimal breast health among all women.
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This textbook on palliative social work is a companion volume to the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine and the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Nursing. To that end, this chapter will accomplish ...the following:
♦
The term
screening
is not interchangeable with
assessment
.
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Screening identifies patients that need to take priority for assessment
.
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Assessment should be based on the needs and concerns of patients as documented in the relevant biopsychosocialspiritual literature
.
♦
Evidencebased interventions, such as problemsolving education, can benefit both patients and family caregivers in terms of management of distress and symptoms related to disease
.
Thirty-two care-givers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and 30 care-givers of persons with recurrent metastatic cancer were interviewed three times over a 2-year period. Both groups showed a ...decline in anxiety and negative mood while dementia care-givers also experienced a decline in anger. A multiple regression analysis revealed that care-giver neuroticism, self-reported low strength of religious beliefs and anger explained 54% of the variance of the negative affect balance score at 2-year follow-up while higher number of social contacts at index interview and strong self-reported religious faith explained 43% of the variance of positive affect balance.
This chapter describes the skills, roles, and competencies required of oncology social workers, and the multifaceted education, training, and supervision needed to prepare the social worker to work ...effectively with cancer patients and families. Included are the roles that oncology social workers demonstrate in training and supervising other social workers, providing evidencebased care, supporting team members, advocating for system change, and conducting research.
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