# Use of NCCN distress thermometer in cancer genetics patients

## TL;DR

This study explores the use of the NCCN Distress Thermometer in cancer genetics patients to assess their emotional distress and identify common concerns.

## Contribution

The study evaluates the NCCN Distress Thermometer's utility in cancer genetics clinics for distress screening.

## Key findings

- Younger age and female sex were associated with higher distress levels.
- Worry, fatigue, and sleep disturbance were the most common reported problems.
- The Distress Thermometer can help identify patients with high distress in genetic counseling.

## Abstract

Distress is not routinely measured in patients undergoing cancer genetic counseling. We evaluated the use of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) Distress Thermometer (DT) and Problem List (PL) in an unselected population of individuals presenting to a cancer genetics clinic to determine their utility in assessing distress in this population.

Patients presenting to one cancer genetics clinic between April 2019 and March 2020 were asked to complete the DT and PL (2019 version). New patients aged 18 or older were divided into categories of low (DT score < 4) and high distress (DT score ≥ 4), consistent with NCCN groupings for evaluation of distress. Correlates of distress were explored using Chi-square and t tests.

Younger age and female sex assigned at birth were associated with reporting high distress. Personal history of cancer was not associated with high distress. Worry, fatigue, and sleep disturbance were the most commonly patient-reported problems.

Findings from this study show that the DT can assist in identifying patients undergoing cancer genetic counseling who are experiencing high distress; however, research to develop a PL more specific to the concerns of the oncology genetic counseling patient population may be considered to better identify relevant patient problems.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00520-025-09473-y.