Is screening for psychosocial risk factors associated with mental health care in older adults with cancer undergoing surgery? Journal Article


Authors: Trevino, K. M.; Nelson, C. J.; Saracino, R. M.; Korc-Grodzicki, B.; Sarraf, S.; Shahrokni, A.
Article Title: Is screening for psychosocial risk factors associated with mental health care in older adults with cancer undergoing surgery?
Abstract: Background: Surgery is a notable stressor for older adults with cancer, who often are medically and psychosocially complex. The current study examined rates of preoperative psychosocial risk factors in older adults with cancer who were undergoing elective surgery and the relationship between these risk factors and the provision of mental health services during the postoperative hospitalization. Methods: A total of 1211 patients aged ≥75 years who were referred to the geriatrics service at a comprehensive cancer center were enrolled. Patients underwent elective surgery with a length of stay of ≥3 days and were followed for at least 30 days after surgery. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was administered as part of routine preoperative care. Bivariate relationships between demographic and surgical characteristics and the preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment and the receipt of mental health services during the postoperative hospitalization period were examined. Characteristics with bivariate relationships that were significant at the level of P <.10 were entered into a multivariable regression predicting postoperative mental health service use. Results: Approximately one-fifth of the total sample (20.6%) received postoperative mental health services. In multivariable analyses, high distress (P =.007) and poor social support (P =.02) were found to be associated with a greater likelihood of the receipt of mental health services. Of those patients with high distress and poor social support, only approximately one-quarter (24.6%-25.5%) received mental health care. Conclusions: Distressed older adults and those with low levels of support preoperatively were found to be more likely to receive mental health services after surgery. Nevertheless, less than one-third of these patients received inpatient postoperative mental health care, indicating that barriers to translating screening into the provision of psychosocial services remain. © 2019 American Cancer Society
Keywords: adult; controlled study; aged; cancer surgery; major clinical study; neoplasms; risk factor; risk assessment; social support; screening; distress syndrome; mental health; social psychology; elective surgery; mental health service; operative; human; male; female; priority journal; article; psychological well-being; malignant neoplasm; referral consultation
Journal Title: Cancer
Volume: 126
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0008-543X
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2020-02-01
Start Page: 602
End Page: 610
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32564
PUBMED: 31626346
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC6980247
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 3 February 2020 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Christian Nelson
    391 Nelson
  2. Rebecca Mary James
    79 James
  3. Armin Shahrokni
    132 Shahrokni
  4. Saman Sarraf
    16 Sarraf
  5. Kelly M Trevino
    55 Trevino