ONS Connect - February 2008 - (Page 22) FivEmiNuTEiNSErviCE AS SeeN IN tHe CliniCal Journal of onCology nursing Put Evidence Into Practice to Manage Depression [By Pamela Oestreicher, PhD, ONS Scientific Writer] key Definitions Complementary and alternative therapy: various diseasetreating or diseasepreventing practices that differ from conventional or traditional medicine, including hypnotherapy, massage therapy, relaxation therapy, guided imag ery, yoga, nutritional and herbal supplements, acupuncture, and aromatherapy Depression: the entire range of feelings and emotions expressed by individuals with cancer as they manage personal and illnessre lated problems; it includes normal sadness in response to loss as well as chronic, depressed emotional affect and clinical depression that meet specific criteria for a psy chiatric disorder. Patients with depressive symptoms who fail to meet the criteria for diagnosis or with sufficient symptoms to meet the diagnosis are at risk for poor health outcomes. of total medical care and should be provided with information about avail able psychosocial services. Depression and depressive symptoms are prevalent in people with cancer, but intervention for depression is a low pri ority for most oncology providers. Barri ers to diagnosis and treatment include motional distress significantly in fluences cancer survivors’ recovery and may even affect longterm survival. Depression, the most common emotional distress experienced, is estimated to oc cur in 15%–25% of patients with cancer (National Cancer Institute, 2007). National Comprehensive Cancer Net work ([NCCN], 2007) Standards of Care for Distress Management call for screen ing, evaluating, and treating depression in all patients with cancer. NCCN recom mends that • All patients should be screened for distress at their initial visit, at appro priate intervals, and as clinically in dicated; screening should identify the level and nature of the distress. E • Educational and training programs should be developed to ensure that healthcare professionals and pastoral caregivers know how to assess and manage distress. • Licensed mental health professionals and certified pastoral caregivers ex perienced in psychosocial aspects of cancer should be readily available. • Medical care contracts should include reimbursement for services provided by mental health professionals. • Clinical health outcomes measure ment should include assessment of the psychosocial domain. • Patients, families, and treatment teams should be informed that man agement of distress is an integral part “FiveMinute InService” is a monthly feature that offers readers a concise recap of a fulllength article published in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing (CJON) or Oncology Nursing Forum. This edition summarizes “Putting Evidence Into Practice: Interventions for Depression” by Caryl D. Fulcher, MSN, APRN, BC, Terry Bad ger, PhD, APRN, BC, FAAN, Ashley K. Gunter, BSN, RN, OCN®, Joyce A. Marrs, MS, APRN, BC, AOCNP®, and Jill M. Reese, BSN, RN, OCN®, which is featured in the February 2008 issue of CJON. Questions regarding the information presented in this FiveMinute InService should be directed to the CJON editor at CJONEditor@ ons.org. Photocopying of this article for educational purposes and group discussion is permitted. 22 ONS CONNECT February 2008
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