Abstract
Background
Timely signaling of distress in cancer patients is important. Due to the focus on medical treatment, patients and healthcare providers often overlook other options for leading a higher quality, meaningful life with this critical illness. By shifting the emphasis to resilience and well-being (rather than ill-health), the patient can be empowered and distress may be prevented.
Aims
To compare the Distress Thermometer and the spider-web diagram, a visualization tool that represents patients’ assessments of different aspects of their lifes.
Method
A quantitative study was carried out among lung cancer patients (n=112) at the Albert Schweitzer hospital in the Netherlands. They all completed the Distress Thermometer as well as the Spider-Web diagram (Dialogue tool 1.0 of the Institute for Positive Health), and a satisfaction questionnaire (min 1 to max 10).
Results
The spider-web does not represent an external norm, it reflects the personal evaluation of the situation. Patients' satisfaction scores of the Spider Web exceeded the distress thermometer (8.0 ± 1.3 vs 6.9 ± 1.2). More specifically, they felt more able to state problems and concerns (t (- .67), p
Conclusion
Satisfaction and preference among patients was in favor of the Spider Web. It is recommended that oncology teams start a conversation about deploying the most appropriate instrument for prevention of distress, preferably aimed at mapping mental well-being and enhancing positive qualities.
Timely signaling of distress in cancer patients is important. Due to the focus on medical treatment, patients and healthcare providers often overlook other options for leading a higher quality, meaningful life with this critical illness. By shifting the emphasis to resilience and well-being (rather than ill-health), the patient can be empowered and distress may be prevented.
Aims
To compare the Distress Thermometer and the spider-web diagram, a visualization tool that represents patients’ assessments of different aspects of their lifes.
Method
A quantitative study was carried out among lung cancer patients (n=112) at the Albert Schweitzer hospital in the Netherlands. They all completed the Distress Thermometer as well as the Spider-Web diagram (Dialogue tool 1.0 of the Institute for Positive Health), and a satisfaction questionnaire (min 1 to max 10).
Results
The spider-web does not represent an external norm, it reflects the personal evaluation of the situation. Patients' satisfaction scores of the Spider Web exceeded the distress thermometer (8.0 ± 1.3 vs 6.9 ± 1.2). More specifically, they felt more able to state problems and concerns (t (- .67), p
Conclusion
Satisfaction and preference among patients was in favor of the Spider Web. It is recommended that oncology teams start a conversation about deploying the most appropriate instrument for prevention of distress, preferably aimed at mapping mental well-being and enhancing positive qualities.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Publication status | Published - 2 Jul 2022 |
Event | European Conference on Positive Psychology: Creating a world we want to live in - Reykjavic, Iceland Duration: 29 Jun 2022 → 2 Jul 2022 https://ecpp2020.com/ecpp/ |
Conference
Conference | European Conference on Positive Psychology |
---|---|
Abbreviated title | ECPP 2022 |
Country/Territory | Iceland |
City | Reykjavic |
Period | 29/06/22 → 2/07/22 |
Internet address |