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Psychosocial Distress Screening: An Educational Program’s Impact on Participants’ Goals for Screening Implementation in Routine Cancer Care

Mark Lazenby

Elizabeth Ercolano

Andrea Knies

Nick Pasacreta

Marcia Grant

Jimmie C. Holland

Paul B. Jacobsen

Terry A. Badger

Devika R. Jutagir

Ruth McCorkle

implementation, distress, Screening, psychosocial, SMART goals
CJON 2018, 22(3), E85-E91. DOI: 10.1188/18.CJON.E85-E91

Background: Psychosocial distress screening is a quality care standard in cancer care. Screening implementation may be facilitated by an educational program that uses goals to evaluate progress over time.

Objectives: This article describes the content and design of the Screening for Psychosocial Distress Program (SPDP), reports on its delivery to 36 paired participants, and evaluates its effects on distress screening activities and goals.

Methods: The SPDP used a one-group pre-/post-test design. It was delivered at 2 workshops and 10 conference calls during a two-year period. Data on screening and goal achievement were collected at 6, 12, and 24 months. Data on the quality of dyads’ relationships were collected at 24 months.

Findings: At 24 months, all 18 dyads had begun screening. Dyads reported working effectively together and being supportive of the other member of the dyad while achieving their goals for implementing psychosocial distress screening.

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