Cancer Centers of Colorado at Saint Joseph Hospital/SCL Health, Denver, CO
Gregory Joseph Britt , Rebecca C. Shay , Monica Rassmusen , Sandra Vannice , Jana M Bolduan Lomax
Background: We aim to describe our psychosocial distress screening program with attention to our female breast cancer population and symptoms of anxiety and depression among English-speaking Caucasians and Spanish speaking Hispanics. Methods: We retrospectively examined the emotional distress scores of 170 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer at the Cancer Centers of Colorado at SCL Heath/Saint Joseph Hospital from January-December 2015. SCL Health IRB approval was obtained. Patients were provided a distress screening questionnaire (English or Spanish) at their initial visit. Data points included: gender, age, ethnicity, primary language, emotional distress (worry/nervousness or anxiety/fears and sadness/depression) and degree of distress (“thermometer” scale 0-10 or not at all, slightly, moderately, seriously or very seriously). The degree of distress measures were revised in August 2015 from a “thermometer” scale to a descriptive scale. Results: Of 170 women studied, there were 104 Caucasian, 49 Hispanic, and 17 other race/ethnicity (including Black, Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander). 76 women (40 Caucasian, 31 Hispanic, 5 other) did not participate in filling out the questionnaire. Of the 94 patients responding, 68% were Caucasian (n=64), 19% Hispanic (n=18), and 13% other (n=12). With regard to symptoms, 55% of Caucasians (n=35), 44% of Hispanics (n=8), and 50% of other (n=6) reported anxiety. Moreover, 36% of Caucasians (n=23), 56% of Hispanics (n=10), and 33% of other (n=4) recorded sadness/depression. Among the descriptive scale scores from August-December 2015, Hispanics were the only group to record “seriously” or “very seriously” in regard to anxiety or sadness/depression. Conclusions: Our retrospective study of emotional distress screening demonstrated lower participation among Hispanics with breast cancer. Concerns of anxiety and depression were common among all groups, with a small number of Hispanics reporting the highest levels. Emotional distress screening is an important component of cancer care for women with breast cancer and barriers for non-English speaking Hispanic patients need to be examined.
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Abstract Disclosures
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