Psychosocial care of adults with cancer, an implementation study

Aim

In this project, we implement the Distress thermometer in oncology hospital and home care, in accordance with the Dutch 'Beter doen'-list. Cancer occurs more frequently and patients with cancer often experience psychosocial problems. With the Distress thermometer, we identify psychosocial care needs at an early stage.

Appropriate and efficient care

The goal of this project is for nurses to provide more appropriate and efficient care, in cooperation with informal care. This ensures improvement of quality of life and treatment compliance. Because of this they may rely less on other type of care. Besides, nurses gain more professional lead over the use of psychosocial care which increases their job satisfaction.

Approach

We start with a pre-measurement, explore influencing factors at patient, nurse, and organizational level, and develop implementation strategies, which we then apply. This will be followed by a post-measurement, a broad evaluation of the added (including economic) value of the Distress Thermometer, and dissemination of knowledge.

Collaboration

This initiative is a collaboration of hospital, home and informal care