Diagnostic accuracy of the NCCN distress thermometer for the assessment of psychosocial distress among Filipino patients with cancer
https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.vi0.3463
- Author:
Dean Marvin P. Pizarro
1
;
Marie Belle I. Francia
1
;
Mel Valerie C. Ordinario
1
Author Information
1. Cancer Institute, St. Lukes Medical Center Quezon City
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Distress thermometer
- MeSH:
Anxiety;
Depression;
Fear;
Sadness;
Patient Health Questionnaire
- From:
Acta Medica Philippina
2022;56(12):5-11
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective:The study aimed to assess the validity of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer (NCCN-DT) for determining psychosocial distress, as applied to Filipino patients with cancer.
Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study that included adult patients with cancer undergoing treatment at a tertiary private hospital. The NCCN-DT was administered to the patients together with the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) as the gold standard diagnostic test for psychosocial distress. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was done to determine the accuracy of the NCCN-DT as a screening tool.
Results:We included 114 Filipino adults with cancer. The ROC analysis showed an Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) score of 0.98 for the NCCN-DT against the PHQ-8. The cut-off score of ≥7 showed a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 89.3% for detecting distress. The positive predictors for distress were identified: sadness (P<0.001), fear (P=0.001), depression (P=0.002), worry (P=0.02), childcare (P=0.03), fatigue (P=0.03), treatment decisions (P=0.04), loss of interest in usual activities (P=0.04), and memory/concentration (P=0.04).
Conclusion:The NCCN-DT had satisfactory diagnostic accuracy in agreement with PHQ-8 for screening of psychosocial distress among Filipino cancer patients. A cut-off score of ≥7 using the NCCN-DT gave the highest sensitivity and specificity for detecting distress in this population. The findings of this study can be used as validation of the NCCN-DT screening tool for a prospective application.
- Full text:3463-Article Text-33415-2-10-20220715.pdf
