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Table 3 The association between the Distress Thermometer (DT) score ≥ 4 and the Problems List items of 550 cancer patients

From: Is it the time to implement the routine use of distress thermometer among Egyptian patients with newly diagnosed cancer?

Problem list

Item Present

(%)

DT cut-off ≥ 4

N (%)

DT cut-off <  4

N (%)

OR (95% CI)

Adjusted OR (95% CI)

Child care

133 (24)

63 (47)

70 (53)

0.9 (0.623–1.362)

 

Housing

124 (22)

64 (52)

60 (48)

0.7 (0.496–1.106)

 

Health Insurance

108 (20)

44 (41)

64 (59)

1.3 (0.543–1.866)*

7.6 (0.042–18.029)***

Transportation

111 (20)

53 (48)

58 (53)

0.9 (0.598–1.377)

 

Work and school

36 (6)

20 (56)

16 (44)

1.2 (0.333–1.299)

 

Treatment decisions

354 (64)

164 (47)

190 (53)

0.9 (0.655–1.340)

 

Dealing with children

125 (23)

58 (46)

67 (54)

0.9 (0.655–1.477)

 

Dealing with Partner

194 (35)

99 (51)

95 (49)

0.7 (0.514–1.039)

 

Ability to have children

87 (16)

43 (49)

44 (51)

0.8 (0.532–1.332)

 

Family Health Issue

74 (13)

44 (59)

30 (41)

1.4 (0.322–1.171)*

 

Depression

147 (27)

132 (90)

15 (10)

8.8 (0.027–3.458)***

6.9 (0.067–19.390)***

Fear

245 (45)

178 (73)

67 (27)

2.6 (0.082–1.731)***

3.9 (0.134–13.690)***

Nervousness

126 (23)

84 (67)

42 (33)

2.0 (0.216–1.696)***

 

Sadness

168 (31)

136 (81)

32 (19)

4.2 (0.066–2.277)***

2.0 (0.260–7.020)**

Worry

258 (47)

178 (69)

80 (31)

2.2 (0.017–1.874)***

4.4 (0.089–14.021)***

Loss of interest in usual activity

129 (23)

104 (80)

25 (20)

4.1 (0.081–2.518)***

3.1 (0.157–11.310)***

Religious

24 (4)

21 (88)

3 (12)

7.0 (0.033–2.412)***

 

Appearance

100 (18)

67 (67)

33 (33)

2.0 (0.218–1.525)***

 

Bathing and Dressing

66 (12)

44 (67)

22 (33)

2.0 (0.219–1.519)***

 

Breathing

101 (18)

61 (61)

40 (39)

1.5 (0.313–1.163)*

 

Change in urination

83 (15)

39 (47)

44 (53)

0.8 (0.593–1.511)

 

Constipation

141 (26)

70 (50)

71 (50)

0.9 (0.554–1.193)

 

Diarrhea

80 (14)

49 (61)

31 (39)

1.5 (0.304–1.190)*

 

Eating

156 (28)

87 (56)

69 (44)

1.2 (0.312–1.245)

 

Fatigue

269 (49)

163 (61)

106 (39)

1.5 (0.299–1.156)*

 

Feeling Swollen

113 (21)

77 (68)

36 (32)

2.1 (0.201–1.603)***

 

Fever

71 (13)

50 (70)

21 (30)

2.3 (0.178–1.764)***

 

Getting Around

91 (17)

62 (68)

29 (32)

2.1 (0.205–1.586)***

 

Indigestion

125 (23)

75 (60)

50 (40)

1.5 (0.317–1.149)*

 

Memory and Concentration

98 (18)

54 (55)

44 (45)

1.2 (0.409–0.986)

 

Mouth Sores

72 (13)

45 (62)

27 (38)

1.7 (0. 275–1.300)**

 

Nausea

156 (28)

98 (63)

58 (37)

1.7 (0.259–1.351)**

 

Dry Nose &Congestion

74 (13)

40 (54)

34 (46)

1.1 (0.425–1.142)

 

Pain

232 (42)

143 (62)

89 (38)

1.6 (0.228–1.477)***

 

Sexual

125 (23)

72 (57)

53 (43)

1.3 (0.361–0.810)

 

Itching and Dry Skin

86 (16)

44 (51)

42 (49)

1.0 (0.491–1.231)

 

Tingling sensation in hands and feet

98 (18)

52 (53)

46 (47)

1.1 (0.453–1.088)

 

Substance Abuse

35 (6)

31 (89)

4 (11)

9.0 (0.034–3.411)***

 

Sleep

178 (32)

129 (72)

49 (28)

2.6 (0.127–1.998)***

3.6 (0.155–12.921)***

  1. OR Odds Ratio, CI confidence interval
  2. * P-value < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001