Work- and school-related distress among patients with cancer: Single-site retrospective chart review. Issue 2 (4th March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Forcino, Rachel; Lichtenstein, Jonathan; Rotenberg, Sivan; Godzik, Cassandra; Schiffelbein, Jenna; Morrissette, Kali; Lyons, Kathleen
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychosocial oncology. Volume 41:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 242
• Page End: 249
• Publication Date: 2023-03-04
• Subjects: distress thermometer -- employment -- school -- cancer -- oncology; Cancer -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 362.196994
• DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2022.2090886
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0734-7332

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To (1) describe the prevalence of work- or school-related distress among patients with cancer and (2) compare overall distress among those impacted at work or school to overall distress among those not impacted at work or school. Design: Retrospective chart review. Participants: All patients visiting the study site March 2016–December 2020 who completed the NCCN Distress Thermometer and Problem List. Methods: Descriptive statistics examined work- or school-related distress across patient characteristics and compared mean Distress Thermometer scores between patients with and without work- or school-related distress. Findings: Among 1, 760 unique patients, 7.5% reported work- or school-related distress at one or more visits. Rates were highest among patients seen for neurological (14.1%), skin (10.6%), and gastrointestinal (9.2%) cancers. Those reporting work- or school-related distress had higher overall distress scores (mean = 4.76; SD = 2.52) than others (mean = 3.37; SD = 2.92) (g=-0.482; t=-5.327, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Although the prevalence of work- or school-related distress was low in this sample, the magnitude of this distress emphasizes the importance of having effective resources available for patients with cancer who experience work- or school-related problems. Implications: More research is needed to understand how well distress screening processes identify and support patients with work- or school-related problems.