Background: In patients with cancer, the routine recording of distress symptoms has been widely established in recent years. Psycho-oncological support has proven to reduce distress and increase quality of life. Despite high levels of distress as well as physical and emotional challenges in patients with cancer, a significant proportion forgoes psycho-oncological services.
Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective evaluation was carried out. Latent class analysis was used to examine the relationship between distress, physical and emotional challenges, and desire for psycho-oncological services in 2191 patients with cancer.
Results: Latent class analysis revealed four homogeneous subgroups: a) patients with high distress, high physical and low emotional challenges and no desire for psycho-oncology, b) patients with high distress, low physical and high emotional challenges and no desire for psycho-oncology, c) patients with high distress, high physical and emotional challenges and a desire for psycho-oncology, d) patients with low distress, low physical and emotional challenges and no desire for psycho-oncology.
Conclusion: The identification of these subgroups of patients with cancer is useful for health care providers in order to focus their efforts in patients with cancer. It might contribute to a more tailored treatment offer for specific subgroups whose needs have so far been insufficiently met.
Keywords: Cancer-related distress; Distress thermometer and problem list; Latent class analysis; Psycho-oncology.
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