Application of Distress Thermometer in Patients with Prostatic Cancer and Prostatitis

Objective: To discuss the application of distress thermometer (DT) on psychological pain in primary hospital patients with prostatic cancer (Pca) and prostatitis; and to analyze the present status and related factors of psychological pain in these patients. Methods: Questionnaire survey of DT and related problem lists were carried out in 168 patients with Pca and 226 patients with prostatitis. The data were input to EXCEL and analyzed with SPSS 18.0. The statistical description was used to analyze the graded of psychological pain. Square test and Logistic regression were used to analyze influence factors of significant psychological distress. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between psychological distress and related problems. Results: Psychological pain score of Pca patients and prostatitis patients were 3.42 ± 1.86 and 3.02 ± 1.75, respectively. Moderate to severe degree of pain accounted for 69.6% in Pca patients, compared to 49.1% in prostatitis patients. In Pca and prostatitis patients, marital status, age, educational backgrounds and income were associated. Physical and emotional problems were the top two items having the highest score. Psychological distress score was positively correlated with physical problems, emotional problems, practical problems and communication problems in both Pcar and prostatitis patients. Conclusion: The Distress Thermometer can be used to assess the severity and explore the causes of psychological distress in Pca patients and prostatitis patients. Our study could help detecting the degree and reason of psychological distress, and provide evidence for the possibility of future personalized intervention to treat medical mental problems in primary hospital.