Building a Screen for Cancer Survivorship-Occupational Therapy Services (SOCS-OTS): a classical Delphi study

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate items for the Screen of Cancer. Survivorship - Occupational Therapy Services (SOCS-OTS), a patient-driven screening tool to be used by frontline workers and filled out by cancer survivors that can indicate a need for appropriate occupational therapy (OT) referral.

Five rounds of a classical Delphi study were conducted to determine item inclusion. Expert panelists in rounds 1 and 2 consisted of adults LWBC who verified proposed items relevant to issues in activities of daily living (ADLs). Expert panelists in rounds 3-5 consisted of expert OTs who determined item relevance through consensus and item modification.

Forty-five adults living with and beyond cancer (LWBC) and 14 expert oncology occupational  therapists and researchers participated in five rounds of surveys. A total of 20 items reached consensus at 80% with a "check all that apply" format. Items included address ADLs meaningful to adults LWBC.

The SOCS-OTS is an innovative content-valid screening tool designed to identify problems with ADLs relevant to OT referral.

The SOCS-OTS can empower cancer survivors and cancer care teams by indicating when daily activities are impacted enough to refer to OT services. This could ensure that cancer survivors receive the rehabilitation services they need.