ISSN 0189-1774
 
2026, Vol: 24, Issue: 2
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Original Article
Online Published: 15 Mar 2024
 


Profile of Psychosocial Distress and Validation of the Distress Thermometer among Cancer Patients in a Nigerian Radiation-Oncology Centre

V.c. Lasebikan, B.a. Ola, M.a.alabi, T.o. Lasebikan, S. Fakunle, A. Adenipekun.


Abstract
Background: Few cancer healthcare practitioners use a valid instrument to assess cancer patients for distress. This study validated the Distress Thermometer (DT) by comparing it with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
Methods: Cancer patients (n = 130) were assessed using sociodemographic questionnaire, the DT and HADS (gold-standard). Analysis was carried out using SPSS 20.0.
Results: The correlation between the DT score and total HADS was 0.689 p < 0.001, between DT and HADS-Anxiety was 0.634, p < 0.001 and between DT and HADS-Depression was 0.50, p < 0.001. With HADS cut-off score at 15, the ROC analysis establishes an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI = 0.74–0.89, p < 0.001. Using a cut-off score of 3, the DT had the best sensitivity (0.98) and specificity (0.63).
Conclusion: Thus, the DT is a valid instrument for screening for psychosocial distress in cancer patients in Nigeria.

Key words: Psychosocial Distress, ROC Curve, Area under Curve, Depression, Anxiety, Nigeria


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Lasebikan V, Ola B, M.a.alabi , Lasebikan T, Fakunle S, Adenipekun A. Profile of Psychosocial Distress and Validation of the Distress Thermometer among Cancer Patients in a Nigerian Radiation-Oncology Centre. NJP. 2023; 21(1): 49-59.

Web Style

Lasebikan V, Ola B, M.a.alabi , Lasebikan T, Fakunle S, Adenipekun A. Profile of Psychosocial Distress and Validation of the Distress Thermometer among Cancer Patients in a Nigerian Radiation-Oncology Centre. https://nigerianjournalofpsychiatry.com/?mno=194367 [Access: June 28, 2026].

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Lasebikan V, Ola B, M.a.alabi , Lasebikan T, Fakunle S, Adenipekun A. Profile of Psychosocial Distress and Validation of the Distress Thermometer among Cancer Patients in a Nigerian Radiation-Oncology Centre. NJP. 2023; 21(1): 49-59.


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Lasebikan V, Ola B, M.a.alabi , Lasebikan T, Fakunle S, Adenipekun A. Profile of Psychosocial Distress and Validation of the Distress Thermometer among Cancer Patients in a Nigerian Radiation-Oncology Centre. NJP. (2023), [cited June 28, 2026]; 21(1): 49-59.


Harvard Style

Lasebikan, V., Ola, . B., M.a.alabi, ., Lasebikan, . T., Fakunle, . S. & Adenipekun, . A. (2023) Profile of Psychosocial Distress and Validation of the Distress Thermometer among Cancer Patients in a Nigerian Radiation-Oncology Centre. NJP, 21 (1), 49-59.


Turabian Style

Lasebikan, V.c., B.a. Ola, M.a.alabi, T.o. Lasebikan, S. Fakunle, and A. Adenipekun. 2023. Profile of Psychosocial Distress and Validation of the Distress Thermometer among Cancer Patients in a Nigerian Radiation-Oncology Centre. Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry, 21 (1), 49-59.


Chicago Style

Lasebikan, V.c., B.a. Ola, M.a.alabi, T.o. Lasebikan, S. Fakunle, and A. Adenipekun. "Profile of Psychosocial Distress and Validation of the Distress Thermometer among Cancer Patients in a Nigerian Radiation-Oncology Centre." Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry 21 (2023), 49-59.


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Lasebikan, V.c., B.a. Ola, M.a.alabi, T.o. Lasebikan, S. Fakunle, and A. Adenipekun. "Profile of Psychosocial Distress and Validation of the Distress Thermometer among Cancer Patients in a Nigerian Radiation-Oncology Centre." Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry 21.1 (2023), 49-59. Print.


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Lasebikan, V., Ola, . B., M.a.alabi, ., Lasebikan, . T., Fakunle, . S. & Adenipekun, . A. (2023) Profile of Psychosocial Distress and Validation of the Distress Thermometer among Cancer Patients in a Nigerian Radiation-Oncology Centre. Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry, 21 (1), 49-59.


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