The focus on life-prolonging anticancer treatment hampers shared decision-making in people with advanced cancer: A qualitative embedded multiple-case study.

Background: Implementing shared decision-making in oncology practice is often limited, particularly integrating the patient's context into decision-making. To improve this, we conducted a quality improvement project, attempts to accomplish this by: (1) Integrating the patient's context into shared decision-making during consultation with the medical oncologist; (2) Actively involving the GP and case manager (a specialized oncology nurse), who often have knowledge about the patient's context, and; (3) Giving the person with advanced cancer a time-out period of up to 2 weeks to consider and discuss treatment options with others, including close family and friends.

Aim: To explore how persons with advanced cancer and their involved professionals experienced shared decision-making after the introduction of .

Does a regular nurse-led distress screening and discussion improve quality of life of breast cancer patients treated with curative intent? A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: We performed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to investigate whether regular screening with the distress thermometer (DT) by a nurse improved global quality of life (QOL) of patients with breast cancer (BC) treated with curative intent.

Methods: BC patients were randomized between regular screening for distress with a nurse-led DT intervention (NDTI) and usual care (UC). Both groups filled out questionnaires at baseline, after each received treatment modality and at follow-up visits up to 2 years.

Psychometric properties of the 45-item supportive care needs survey-partners and caregivers - Dutch (SCNS-P&C45-D) in partners of patients with breast cancer.

Objective: To test the psychometric properties of the Dutch 45-item Supportive Care Needs Survey-Partners and Caregivers (SCNS-P&C45-D) among partners of women with breast cancer living in the Netherlands.

Methods: In this cross-sectional validation study, partners of patients with breast cancer were invited to complete a survey on the patient's cancer and the caregiver's level of unmet needs (SCNS-P&C45-D), psychological distress (HADS) and burden (EDIZ).

Results: 43% of the invited informal caregivers responded (n = 302).

The effectiveness of a nurse-led intervention with the distress thermometer for patients treated with curative intent for breast cancer: design of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Distress in patients with cancer influences their quality of life. Worldwide, screening on distress with the Distress Thermometer (DT) in patients with cancer is recommended. However, the effects of the use of the DT on the psychosocial wellbeing of the patient are unknown.

A Specific Distress Cutoff Score Shortly After Breast Cancer Diagnosis.

Background: High levels of distress are expected shortly after the diagnosis breast cancer. The Distress Thermometer (DT) is commonly used to screen for distress, using a cutoff score of 4 or 5; however, this score might not be appropriate for detecting distress in women with recently diagnosed breast cancer.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to establish the optimal DT cutoff score for detecting high distress shortly after breast cancer diagnosis and to correlate this score with the reported problems.

Self-reported distress in patients with ovarian cancer: is it related to disease status?

Objective: Patients with epithelial ovarian cancer have a poor prognosis and often undergo intensive treatment. These patients are therefore at risk for experiencing distress and reduced quality of life. The aim of this study was to explore the self-reported distress severity, experienced problems, and quality of life in relation to their disease status.

The cancer empowerment questionnaire: psychological empowerment in breast cancer survivors.

New models of cancer care and survivorship ask for empowered patients. But how do we measure that patients can derive strength from themselves (intrapersonal) and their perceived social support (interpersonal)? The 40-item Cancer Empowerment Questionnaire (CEQ) measures psychological empowerment as an individual outcome measure. The CEQ was validated in 140 nonmetastatic female breast cancer survivors (mean 5.

Distress screening remains important during follow-up after primary breast cancer treatment.

Background: To improve psychosocial care, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends the use of the Distress Thermometer (DT) to detect distress among cancer patients.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of distress in breast cancer survivors (BCSs) and to investigate demographic, treatment, and psychosocial variables associated with distress and problems most often reported on the problem list. Moreover, we assessed how many BCSs requested referral to a professional for additional support.