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. 2016 Apr;14(4):407-14.
doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2016.0047.

Guiding Lay Navigation in Geriatric Patients With Cancer Using a Distress Assessment Tool

Gabrielle B Rocque  1   2 , Richard A Taylor  1   3 , Aras Acemgil  1   4 , Xuelin Li  4 , Maria Pisu  1   4 , Kelly Kenzik  4 , Bradford E Jackson  3 , Karina I Halilova  1 , Wendy Demark-Wahnefried  1 , Karen Meneses  1   3 , Yufeng Li  1   4 , Michelle Y Martin  4 , Carol Chambless  1 , Nedra Lisovicz  1   4 , Mona Fouad  1   4 , Edward E Partridge  1 , Elizabeth A Kvale  1   5 ; Patient Care Connect Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Guiding Lay Navigation in Geriatric Patients With Cancer Using a Distress Assessment Tool

Gabrielle B Rocque et al. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2016 Apr.

Abstract

Background: There is growing interest in psychosocial care and evaluating distress in patients with cancer. As of 2015, the Commission on Cancer requires cancer centers to screen patients for distress, but the optimal approach to implementation remains unclear.

Methods: We assessed the feasibility and impact of using distress assessments to frame lay navigator interactions with geriatric patients with cancer who were enrolled in navigation between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2014.

Results: Of the 5,121 patients enrolled in our lay patient navigation program, 4,520 (88%) completed at least one assessment using a standardized distress tool (DT). Navigators used the tool to structure both formal and informal distress assessments. Of all patients, 24% reported distress scores of 4 or greater and 5.5% reported distress scores of 8 or greater. The most common sources of distress at initial assessment were pain, balance/mobility difficulties, and fatigue. Minority patients reported similar sources of distress as the overall program population, with increased relative distress related to logistical issues, such as transportation and financial/insurance questions. Patients were more likely to ask for help with questions about insurance/financial needs (79%), transportation (76%), and knowledge deficits about diet/nutrition (76%) and diagnosis (66%) when these items contributed to distress.

Conclusions: Lay navigators were able to routinely screen for patient distress at a high degree of penetration using a structured distress assessment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest/Disclosure Statements:

The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or any of its agencies.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
The University of Alabama Health System Cancer Community Network
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Distress Items, Requests for Assistance, and Resolution of patient concern in (A) All patients (B) Patients with a distress score ≥ 8 and (C) Minority patents Attachment A. Modified Distress Assessment
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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