Effect of a structured psycho-oncological screening and treatment model on mental health in cancer patients (STEPPED CARE): study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.
Trials
; 15: 482, 2014 Dec 10.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25491069
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
High levels of emotional distress in cancer patients often goes unnoticed in daily clinical routine, resulting in severe undertreatment of mental health problems in this patient group. Screening tools can be used to increase case identification, however, screening alone does not necessarily translate into better mental health for the patient. Doctors play a key role in providing basic emotional support and transferring the patients in need of such specific support to mental health professionals. This study investigates whether a stepped care model, combining screening, doctor consultation and professional psycho-oncological service in a structured way, improves the emotional wellbeing of cancer patients. METHODS/DESIGN:
This study is a cluster randomized trial with two parallel groups (intervention vs. care as usual), set in an academic hospital. Participants are cancer patients, a total of 1,000 at baseline. The intervention consists of stepped psychosocial care. Step one screening for distress, step two feedback of screening results to the doctor in charge of the patient and consultation with the patient, and step three based on a shared patient-doctor decision, either transferal to the consultation liaison (CL) service or not. The outcome will be emotional well-being half a year after baseline, ascertained with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Randomization will be done by the cluster randomization of wards.DISCUSSION:
Mental health problems not only cause emotional suffering but also direct and indirect costs. This calls for timely and adequate psychosocial support, especially as we know that such support is effective. However, not every cancer patient can and must be treated by a mental health professional. Allocating limited resources most sensibly and economically is of crucial importance for our healthcare system to ensure the best quality of care to as many patients as possible. It is the hope of the STEPPED CARE trial that this model is both effective and efficient, and that it can be implemented in other hospitals as well, if proven to be effective. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials Register (Clinicaltrials.gov) identifier NCT01859429 registration date 17 May 2013.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica
/
Qualidade de Vida
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Projetos de Pesquisa
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Estresse Psicológico
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Saúde Mental
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Inquéritos e Questionários
/
Serviços de Saúde Mental
/
Neoplasias
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Diagnostic_studies
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Etiology_studies
/
Guideline
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Screening_studies
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Trials
Assunto da revista:
MEDICINA
/
TERAPEUTICA
Ano de publicação:
2014
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Alemanha