Diagnosing Levels of Distress in Specialist Palliative Care

Abstract

This paper makes the case for the use of the Distress Thermometer (DT) as a standardised diagnostic tool in End of Life Care. It explores the current situation in palliative care health services, building an argument that there is an under-diagnosis of depression and mental distress in the fields of palliative care due to a lack of standardisation and screening. The paper sets out its hypothesis and follows this with an account of repeat audit cycles and action research interventions in the implementation and use of the DT within a National Health Service and voluntary sector context.