Perceptions of psychological distress in Japanese cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment — ASN Events
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Perceptions of psychological distress in Japanese cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment (#554)

Lisa Mackenzie 1 2 , Eiji Suzuki 3 , Masakazu Ogura 4 , Rob Sanson-Fisher 2 , Mariko Carey 2 , Hiromi Asada 4 , Masakazu Toi 3 , Masahiro Hiraoka 4 , Kazue Tatsuno 4 , Catherine D'Este 2 5 6
  1. Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
  2. Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  3. Breast Surgery, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
  4. Radiation Oncology & Image-applied Therapy, Kyoto University Hospital [2], Kyoto, Japan
  5. Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, The University of Newcastle [2], Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  6. Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Newcastle [3], Newcastle, NSW, Australia

The aims of this study are to establish in Japanese radiation oncology patients’: 1) The proportion of likely cases of anxiety, depression, and overall distress as identified by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); and 2) the agreement between patients’ self-reported anxiety and depression levels and HADS classifications.  Eligible participants are adult cancer patients attending radiation therapy appointments in a Japanese university hospital. Patients providing informed consent complete a touchscreen computer survey assessing demographic and disease characteristics; perceived anxiety and depression levels; and the HADS. Our accrual target is 200. After one month of recruitment, 40 patients have completed the survey.Preliminary findings suggest that 20% (95% CI: 9.0-36%) of patients are likely cases of moderate-severe depression, and 13% (95% CI: 4.2-27%) are likely cases of moderate-severe anxiety. Thirty-three percent (95% CI: 19-49%) of patients are likely cases of general psychological distress (overall score ≥15). Ten percent of patients (95% CI: 2.8-24%) indicated that they would like to be offered some professional support for their current levels of anxiety and/or depression. Agreement between self-reported anxiety and HADS classified likely anxiety is currently 79% (slight-moderate; Cohen's κ = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1, 0.6). For depression agreement between patient self-reported depression and HADS classified likely depression is 82% (none-substantial; κ = 0.3, 95% CI: -0.08, 0.7). Agreement between having a current desire to be offered support and HADS classified likely anxiety is 89% (κ = 0.4, 95% CI:-0.01, 0.9) and depression 79% (κ = 0.2, 95% CI: -0.1, 0.6). Assessment of psychological distress using touchscreen computers in Japanese radiotherapy treatment settings appears to be feasible. Patients’ perceptions of levels and/or desire for support for psychological distress may be a useful first step in a staged approach for distress screening in this setting.