Master of Arts (Applied Psychology)

The purpose of this study was to develop a psychosocial screening process for cancer and palliative care patients. Research studies have shown a high prevalence of distress, anxiety and depression in cancer patients, during the course of their illness and treatment. Studies in this area, also suggest that psychological support and treatment of emotional symptoms, are important for helping cancer patients to cope with their illness and treatment.

Currently there are no formalized assessment/screening procedures used for detecting cancer patients’ emotional symptoms in Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National Cancer Centre (NCC). There is a need to develop a screening/ assessment process that included use of psychological instruments, allowing cancer care clinicians to identify patients’ emotional symptoms. Cancer patients’ symptoms may then be treated to optimise patient recovery and health.

Engel’s Biopsychosocial model highlighted the need to treat cancer patients’ symptoms associated with physical, psychological and social issues. A two-step psychosocial screening and assessment process was implemented in the study, with use of an ultra-short screening tool (ET) for first level screening and use of an assessment tool (HADS), and psychiatric assessment (MINI) if necessary for second level assessment.

The findings from this study make the case for development and implementation of a two stage psychosocial screening process for cancer patients, with use of standardized psychometric tools to screen cancer patients for emotional symptoms. The findings also support the use of ET and HADS, as valid and reliable instruments for assessment of anxiety and depression in the cancer patients.