Distress levels in patients undergoing chemotherapy in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to measure distress at three points during the course of chemotherapy: beginning, middle, and the last day of therapy in a private cancer center in Brazil.

METHODS

One hundred patients were assessed at three points during chemotherapy using the Distress Thermometer (DT) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The data were analyzed with the support of SPSS 15.0 software.

RESULTS

At the beginning of chemotherapy, patients mean scores were distress (82%), anxiety (78%) and depression (55%). In the middle of treatment, the percentages of distress, anxiety and depression decreased to 36.4, 25 and 25.3%, respectively. On the last day, the levels were 18.2% for distress and 14.3% for both anxiety and depression.

CONCLUSION

Distress is highest in these patients at the beginning of chemotherapy, suggesting that evaluation of patients for psychosocial needs is important. Screening with a simple rapid instrument such as the DT is feasible and useful.