A Self-Help Manual for Psychological Distress and Quality of Life During a Haemopoietic Stem-Cell Transplant: An Effectiveness and Acceptability Pilot.

Haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) can be a highly distressing procedure that negatively impacts quality of life (QoL). Self-help interventions can help improve psychopathology and wellbeing in patients with physical illness, but have rarely been trialled with HSCT recipients. This study aimed to pilot the utility of a self-help manual intervention during the acute phase of HSCT.

A prospective study of the relationship between sense of coherence, depression, anxiety, and quality of life of haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients over time.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to examine the impact of patient sense of coherence (SOC) on anxiety and depressive symptoms, and quality of life (QoL) dimensions in the acute phase of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). A secondary aim was to determine if SOC measured pre-transplant was predictive of psychological distress and QoL post-transplantation, after controlling for physical wellbeing.

Method: A series of measures was completed by 60 HSCT patients prior to transplantation.

Routine screening for psychological distress on an Australian inpatient haematology and oncology ward: impact on use of psychosocial services.

Objective: To describe the outcomes and clinical experience of a 12-week pilot study of routine distress screening of newly admitted patients to an acute haematology and oncology ward.

Design, Patients And Setting: Bedside measurement of psychological distress, and collection of demographic and clinical data for 115 newly admitted patients in an acute haematology and oncology ward of The Alfred hospital in Melbourne between 5 June and 25 August 2006.

Main Outcome Measures: Psychosocial distress as measured by the Distress Thermometer and Problem Checklist, and 18-item Brief Symptom Inventory; rate of referral to psychology and social work services in the 12 weeks before and 12 weeks during the pilot study; ward staff feedback on the benefits and challenges associated with routine distress screening.