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Distress Thermometer Screening — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

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HardPsychological & PsychiatricDistress Thermometer ScreeningSCE Palliative Medicine

A hospice uses the Distress Thermometer. A patient scores 5/10 and lists several practical and emotional problems. Which interpretation best reflects the UK hospice validation study when sensitivity is prioritised?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: C — Use a single threshold of at least 5, followed by contextual clinical assessment

The Distress Thermometer is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. Although the study reported different ROC-optimal cut-offs for individual outcomes, its final sensitivity-prioritising recommendation was one threshold of at least 5 when screening for distress, anxiety or depression. NHS holistic-needs guidance supports discussing the wider problem list and agreeing a plan, so the score should trigger contextual assessment rather than a categorical diagnosis.

Reference: UK hospice validation of the Distress Thermometer. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7797615/ NHS Data Dictionary: Holistic Needs Assessment. https://archive.datadictionary.nhs.uk/DD%20Release%20March%202024/nhs_business_definitions/holistic_needs_assessment.html