Validity of the Thai Version of the Distress Thermometer

Abstract

Objective :

To study the validity of Thai Version of Distress Thermometer for screening distress in patients with hematologic cancer.

Methods :

A diagnostic test study research which collceted data from 104 patients with hematologic cancer patients at the Outpatient Department, Hematology Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital during September 1st - October 31th 2010. The instruments used in the study was a questionnaire for assessment of demographic data and history of cancer, Thai version of Distress Thermometer and Thai HADS. Statistic analysis was done by using SPSS version 16 for descriptive statistics, ROC curve, sensitivity and specificity, predictive value used to analyze validity of Thai Version of Distress Thermometer, and chi-square used to analyze association of related distress factors.

Result :

The Distress Thermometer Thai version devided to distress, depression, anxiety, and screening test. The optimum cut off point for distress screening part at 4 had sensitivity of 7%, specificity of 86%, positive predictive value (ppv) of 63% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 89%. While the cut off point for anxiety at 4 had sensitivity of 91%, specificity of 79%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 33% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 99%. The cut off point for distress screening at 4 had sensitivity of 43%, specificity of 72%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 10% and negative predictive value of 95%.

Conclusion :

The Distress Thermometer Thai Version has a good concurrent validity of which is not different from original version. Distress Thermometer Thai Version is able to be used as a screening instrument for anxiety better than depression but it is a screening instrument only.