National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2016). NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: Distress management [v.2.2016]. Retrieved from
Purpose & Patient Population
PURPOSE: To provide guidance in the assessment and management of distress
TYPES OF PATIENTS ADDRESSED: Adult patients
Type of Resource/Evidence-Based Process
RESOURCE TYPE: Consensus-based guideline
PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT: Details provided on NCCN website
DATABASES USED: PubMed
INCLUSION CRITERIA: Clinical trials, practice guidelines, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and validation studies
EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Not specified
Phase of Care and Clinical Applications
PHASE OF CARE: Not specified or not relevant
Results Provided in the Reference
From 2014–2015, 235 citations were retrieved.
Guidelines & Recommendations
- Recommends psychological interventions with or without antianxiety or antidepressants to treat anxiety
- Recommends psychological interventions with or without antidepressants to treat depression
- Provides algorithms for social work counseling and chaplain interventions
Limitations
Limited information on the quality of evidence was retrieved. All recommendations were mainly consensus based.
Nursing Implications
This guideline provides very general level treatment algorithms based on the results of an initial distress screening, and recommends further assessment and intervention determination if overall distress is 4 or above on the distress thermometer.