The Validity of the Distress Thermometer in Greek Colon Cancer Patients.

Background: Although screening for distress is a crucial part of psycho-social care for cancer patients, there has not been a validation study for this purpose in Greece. The purpose of this study was to evaluate for the first time the psychometric properties of the Greek translation of the Distress Thermometer (DT) and Problem List (PL) in Greek colorectal cancer patients (CRC).

Methods: Participants were 84 CRC inpatients of the 1st Surgical Propedeutic Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a mean age of 70.8±9.5 years. Participants completed the DT, PL and the Hospital Anxiety and -Depression Scale (HADS).

Results: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient in the DT was 0.795. Patients' mean score in the DT was 5.7±2.74, while the mean number of the reported problems in the PL was 18.85±5.50 and the mean total score of the HADS was 15.61±6.95. ROC-analysis supported that a cut-off score of 7 gives the optimal sensitivity and specificity for the DT.

Conclusion: The index sample has manifested high levels of distress, which correspond to high need for support and improvement of the patient-provider relationship. This is probably a difficult task, since the Greek healthcare system has minimal experience of providing psycho-oncology care. The present study has indicated that the DT can be reliably used in the Greek clinical setting. Future studies, along with state provision, are essential in order to offer Greek cancer patients state-of-the-art and comprehensive care.