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A Scoping Review of Psychological Distress Instruments in Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer During Chemotherapy
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  • Amal Alanazi,
  • Debra Kelly,
  • Michael Weaver,
  • Debra E. Lyon
Amal Alanazi
King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences College of Nursing Riyadh

Corresponding Author:amalalanazi1988@gmail.com

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Debra Kelly
University of Florida College of Nursing
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Michael Weaver
University of Florida College of Nursing
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Debra E. Lyon
University of Florida College of Nursing
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Abstract

Background: Psychological distress is associated with worsening symptoms during the active treatment period and lower quality of life in women with early-stage breast cancer. Many studies have indicated risk for heightened psychological distress across the breast cancer trajectory. Aim: The purpose of this review is to examine the literature for instruments used to measure psychological distress among women with breast cancer during chemotherapy. Methods: This study used the Arksey and O’Malley framework of scoping reviews. Two databases, PubMed & CINAHL, were searched for peer-reviewed original articles that were published within the last ten years, included participants with a diagnosis of breast cancer stages I to III, and receiving chemotherapy, English text articles, and studies that report psychological distress measures.  Results: The initial screening yielded 529 relevant studies. After applying the exclusion criteria, a total of 17 studies concerning the assessment of psychological distress during chemotherapy were retained for the analysis of variables and measures of psychological distress. The instruments used to measure for psychological distress varied with a total of 22 measures. The most frequently utilized measure was the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale ( n=5), followed by the Impact of Event Scale ( n=2), the Distress Thermometer ( n=2), and the Perceived Stress Scale ( n=2).  Conclusion: This review identified the gaps related to inconsistencies in the operationalization and instruments used to measure psychological distress among breast cancer survivors during chemotherapy. Standardization of measures assessing psychological distress, along with conceptual clarity, is essential for measuring distress in research and clinical practice.
24 Oct 2022Submitted to Cancer Reports
26 Oct 2022Submission Checks Completed
26 Oct 2022Assigned to Editor
26 Oct 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Nov 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
07 Dec 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Major
27 Jan 20231st Revision Received
07 Feb 2023Submission Checks Completed
07 Feb 2023Assigned to Editor
07 Feb 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Feb 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
25 Feb 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
24 Mar 20232nd Revision Received
04 Apr 2023Submission Checks Completed
04 Apr 2023Assigned to Editor
04 Apr 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 Apr 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
29 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Accept