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Developing a consensus definition of psychosocial complexity in cancer patients using Delphi methods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 August 2020

A. Casellas-Grau ,
C. Jordán de Luna ,
J. Maté ,
C. Ochoa ,
E.C. Sumalla  and
F. Gil Open the ORCID record for F. Gil [Opens in a new window]
A. Casellas-Grau
Affiliation:
Catalan Institute of Oncology, Psychosocial Observatory in Cancer, Psycho-Oncology Unit, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya, Vic, Catalunya, Spain
C. Jordán de Luna
Affiliation:
Pharmaceutical Services, Catalan Institute of Oncology, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
J. Maté
Affiliation:
Catalan Institute of Oncology, Psychosocial Observatory in Cancer, Psycho-Oncology Unit, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
C. Ochoa
Affiliation:
Catalan Institute of Oncology, Psychosocial Observatory in Cancer, Psycho-Oncology Unit, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
E.C. Sumalla
Affiliation:
Catalan Institute of Oncology, Psychosocial Observatory in Cancer, Psycho-Oncology Unit, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
F. Gil*
Affiliation:
Catalan Institute of Oncology, Psychosocial Observatory in Cancer, Psycho-Oncology Unit, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain Escola superior de Ciències de la Salut, Tecnocampus-Mataró, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Mataro, Spain
*
Author for correspondence: Francisco Luis Gil Moncayo, Psycho-oncology Unit, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Av. Gran Via de L'Hospitalet, 199-203, 08907 - L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), Spain. E-mail: fgil@iconcologia.net
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Abstract

Objective

Cancer is one of the biggest health challenges of our times, affecting all the personal areas of a patient. The interrelationships between these areas and the need for multidisciplinary care require the assessment of psychosocial complexity in cancer patients. The main aim of this study was to reach a consensus on the general definition of psychosocial complexity in cancer and its main elements according to the experts in the field.

Method

A Delphi study was performed, which first involved a comprehensive review of the literature to create a questionnaire that was validated by two expert panels. The first panel consisted of intra-institutional experts, while the second included extra-institutional experts in the field. The study included three more rounds: (1) validation of the questionnaire by the internal panel, (2) discussion of the results and resolving discrepancies, and (3) validation of the questionnaire by the external panel.

Results

After the four-round Delphi process, we obtained a consensus definition of psychosocial complexity in cancer patients, as well as of its main factors: medical–physical, social-family, psychological, and spiritual. A 21-indicators list and its 8-indicators brief version were also proposed as indicators of psychosocial complexity.

Significance of results

We present a definition of psychosocial complexity in cancer patients that has been agreed by experts, also establishing its four factors: medical–physical, social-family, psychological, and spiritual. This has led to the development of a list of indicators (and its brief version) that, after a validation process, could help health professionals to identify patients with high psychosocial complexity to provide them an optimal care.

Keywords

CancerDelphiOncologyPsychosocial complexityPsyhcooncologySpirituality
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 19 , Issue 1 , February 2021 , pp. 17 - 27
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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