Distress Screening in a Cancer Survivorship Clinic: Impact on Psychosocial Referrals - Scorecard - MDSpire

Distress Screening in a Cancer Survivorship Clinic: Impact on Psychosocial Referrals

This quality improvement project found that using a distress screening tool for head and neck cancer patients who were 2 or more years post-treatment led to an increased number of referrals for psychosocial needs.

  • By

  • Heather Sloan

  • Sarah J. Jennings

  • Kristi Adair

  • Anne Stein

  • May 6, 2026

  • 24 min

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Clinical Scorecard: Distress Screening in a Cancer Survivorship Clinic: Impact on Psychosocial Referrals

At a Glance

CategoryDetail
Condition
Key Mechanisms
Target PopulationCancer survivors, particularly those with head and neck cancer, focusing on psychosocial care.
Care Setting

Key Highlights

  • HNC affects approximately 60,480 people in the U.S. annually (source needed).

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

    Management

    • Implement a survivorship care plan (SCP) for ongoing support, utilizing specific tools like the distress thermometer.

    Monitoring & Follow-up

      Risks

        Patient & Prescribing Data

        Addressing psychosocial needs through counseling and support groups is critical for improving quality of life.

        Clinical Best Practices

        • Utilize validated tools for distress screening in high-risk survivors, such as the GAD-7 and PHQ-9.

        References

        Original Source(s)

        Distress Screening in a Cancer Survivorship Clinic: Impact on Psychosocial Referrals

        • by Heather Sloan, Sarah J. Jennings, Kristi Adair, Anne Stein

        • May 6, 2026

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