Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40238071›Full record

ReviewJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2025

Optimizing NCCN distress thermometer use in real-world settings: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of the literature.

Priyal Agarwal, Pranav M Patel, Caleb Powell, Meghana Kesireddy

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Implementing an electronic health record workflow to identify parents with cancer and implications for supportive oncology care.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Priyal AgarwalDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA. pagarwal@unmc.edu.
Pranav M PatelUniversity of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA.
Caleb PowellUniversity of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA.
Meghana KesireddyDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis systematic review aims to examine the workflows in distress screening and referral using the NCCN distress thermometer (DT) in the US, aiming to identify key elements for flexible, organization-specific approaches.

methodsA systematic review of full-text manuscripts published from 2013 to May 2024 was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL. Studies describing distress screening and referral protocols were included, while systematic reviews, commentaries, non-US studies, non-English publications, and studies on distress score-disease burden associations were excluded. Attributes of distress screening and referral pathways were extracted.

resultsFrom an initial 1219 articles, 19 studies were included. Significant variability was observed in NCCN DT workflows, particularly in responder characteristics (e.g., cancer type, patient vs. caregiver). Nursing staff primarily administered screenings, varying by mode (paper vs. electronic), frequency, and location (home vs. clinic). A cut-off score of 4 or higher often triggered referrals, with some studies further stratifying distress levels for tailored follow-ups. Referral pathways included educational resources, behavioral and emotional health, social support, and rehabilitative and supportive care services. Caregiver distress screening was infrequent.

conclusionThis review underscores the variability in NCCN DT workflows and the need for customizable protocols. While standardization is desirable, some variation is essential to accommodate the differing availability of resources and personnel for effective distress screening and referral. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Effective distress screening and referral pathways ensure survivors receive timely psychological, emotional, and social support, improving quality of life. Integrating caregiver distress screening into workflows could amplify overall support systems, fostering holistic survivorship care. A flexible yet structured approach enhances access to tailored interventions, promoting resilience in survivors and caregivers.

Indexed as

Distress screeningNCCN distress thermometerPsychosocialSurvivorship

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.