Distress in cancer in-patients in KHCC : a study using the arabic-modified version of distress thermometer in the king hussein cancer center

Abstract EN

This is a case review study exploring and examining the quality and quantity of distress associated with cancer in patients at the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan using a modified version of the Distress Thermometer developed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (U .S.

A).

The aim is to examine the nature of distress in 100 patients over a 6 week period.

The results showed that as many as 70% of the patients are suffering significant distress > 5 on the thermometer.

The major components are anxiety, fear, pain, sadness and fatigue.

The results of this study encourage the use of the distress thermometer for all cancer patients prior to clinical evaluation of all the cancer patients.