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Open Access 01-09-2018 | Original Article

Examining variation across treatment clinics in cancer patients’ psychological outcomes: results of a cross sectional survey

Authors: Mariko Carey, Robert Sanson-Fisher, Tara Clinton-McHarg, Allison Boyes, Ian Olver, Christopher Oldmeadow, Christine Paul, Catherine D’Este, Frans Henskens

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 9/2018

Abstract

Purpose

The majority of research on psychological outcomes for cancer patients has focussed on the role of individual characteristics, and disease and treatment factors. There has been very little exploration of the potential contribution of the treatment clinic to these outcomes. This study explored whether there is variation among clinics in cancer patients’ psychological outcomes.

Methods

Cancer outpatients were recruited from 22 medical oncology and haematology clinics in Australia. Participants completed a pen and paper survey including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), as well as sociodemographic, disease and treatment characteristics.

Results

Of those eligible to participate, 4233 (82%) consented and 2811 (81% of consenters) returned the completed survey. There was no statistically significant variation in HADS depression scores across clinics. Some difference in anxiety scores derived from the HADS questionnaire between clinics (p = 0.03) was found with the percentage of between-clinic variation estimated to be 1.11%. However, once all demographic, disease and treatment predictors were adjusted for there was no statistical differences between clinics (percent of between-clinic variation = 0.53%; p = 0.1415).

Conclusions

Psychological outcomes were not found to vary between clinics. Other sources of variation including patient characteristics may over-ride between-clinic variability, if it exists.

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Title: Examining variation across treatment clinics in cancer patients’ psychological outcomes: results of a cross sectional survey
Authors: Mariko Carey
Robert Sanson-Fisher
Tara Clinton-McHarg
Allison Boyes
Ian Olver
Christopher Oldmeadow
Christine Paul
Catherine D’Este
Frans Henskens
Publication date: 01-09-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 9/2018
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4188-z

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