| Popis: |
Multiple studies have demonstrated that cancer patients are likely to encounter complex biopsychosocial distress at time of diagnosis and during treatment, recurrence, and end-of life care. Since the branding of distress as the sixth vital sign, there has been widespread attention to seeing comprehensive biopsychosocial screening and monitoring patient distress as an essential standard of best practice. To date, this standard has been widely accepted globally, endorsed, and now required for institutional cancer care accreditation. This chapter builds on the previous edition of Psycho-Oncology, where Jimmie Holland, considered the founder of psycho-oncology, strongly supported the inclusion of distress screening as a standard of cancer care and made a case for distress being named the sixth vital sign. The implementation of screening for distress as part of patient-reported outcomes would facilitate the timely and appropriate referral for optimal care inclusive of the need for psychosocial support. In addition to the implications for higher-quality and precision supportive care, this chapter will discuss the economic benefits to the institution by implementing standardized distress screening. |
