Assessing the validity of the clinician-rated distress thermometer in palliative care.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:The distress of patients suffering from a terminal illness can lead to a state of despair and requests for euthanasia and assisted suicide. It is a major challenge for palliative care workers. The Distress Thermometer (DT) is recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network as a means of more easily assessing distress. It is available as a Self-assessment reported Distress Thermometer, but for a wider use in palliative care it should also be implemented in the form of a clinician-reported outcome (clinRO). Clinicians need to rate patient's distress when the patient is not able to do so (subject that cannot be addressed, defensive patient…). The primary aim of the quantitative study was to assess the validity of the Clinician-Rated Distress Thermometer in palliative care.

SUBMITTER: Van Lander A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6798346 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature