Impact of a Multidisciplinary Supportive Care Model Using Distress Screening at an Asian Ambulatory Cancer Center: A...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Supportive Care
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Cancer survivorship presents challenges impacting quality of life and daily functioning.
• Multidisciplinary supportive care models aim to address these survivorship issues.
• Routine distress screening can identify cancer survivors needing additional support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical impact of the Accessible Cancer Care to Enable Support for Cancer Survivors (ACCESS) program over one year.
• To assess if a multidisciplinary supportive care model with distress screening improves outcomes for cancer survivors.

Main Methods:

• Cluster randomized trial at the oncologist level comparing ACCESS to usual care.
• Inclusion of adult patients with newly diagnosed breast or gynecologic cancer.
• Assessment of quality of life, functioning, symptom burden, and activity levels over 12 months.

Main Results:

• The ACCESS program did not significantly improve quality of life (primary outcome).
• ACCESS recipients showed improved physical and role functioning and higher activity levels at 9 months.
• ACCESS recipients experienced reduced psychological distress at 12 months compared to usual care.

Conclusions:

• The ACCESS program did not improve overall quality of life but accelerated functional recovery.
• Reduced psychological distress was observed in the ACCESS intervention group.
• Routine distress screening effectively identifies survivors needing intensive supportive care.