Distress screening and referral program for adults with newly diagnosed solid tumors
A Pilot Distress Screening and Referral Program to Detect Comorbid Psychosocial Distress in NYC Safety Net Hospitals Serving Diverse and Underserved Patients Diagnosed With Cancer
This program will try a distress screening and referral process using the NCCN Distress Thermometer to help English- and Spanish-speaking adults newly diagnosed with solid tumors get connected to mental health support.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (New York, New York and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07117461 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This interventional program implements the NCCN Distress Thermometer to screen adults with newly diagnosed solid tumors for psychological distress and refer those above a threshold to mental health services. Enrollment includes English- and Spanish-preferred patients age 18 and older receiving care at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, with protocol activities coordinated by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and data collection supported by Medisys Health Network. The program records distress scores in the electronic medical record and follows referral uptake and subsequent contact with mental health providers. The aim is to determine whether routine, language-inclusive screening and referral improves identification and connection to psychosocial care across a diverse patient population.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (age ≥18) with a new solid tumor diagnosis who are treated or will be treated at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, prefer English or Spanish for healthcare, and can provide consent.
Not a fit: Patients not receiving care at the participating sites, those whose preferred language is not English or Spanish, or those unable to provide informed consent (for example due to cognitive impairment) may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase timely identification of distress and connect more newly diagnosed patients to mental health care.
How similar studies have performed: Use of the NCCN Distress Thermometer and similar screening tools is common and effective at identifying distressed patients, but prior programs have shown mixed results in consistently improving referral uptake and downstream outcomes.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * New solid tumor cancer diagnosis (per EMR) * Treated or will be treated at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center (per EMR) * Has a NCCN DT score of 0 through 10 (per EMR) * Age ≥ 18 years (per EMR or self-report) * English- or Spanish preferred language for healthcare (per self-report) * Able to provide consent (per completion of consent) Exclusion Criteria: * In the provider or investigative teams' judgement, cognitively not intact to participate in the study (per EMR or investigative team)
Where this trial is running
New York, New York and 1 other locations
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities) — New York, New York, United States (Recruiting)
- Medisys Health Network (Data Collection Only) — Richmond Hill, New York, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Devika Jutagir, PhD — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Devika Jutagir, PhD
- Email: jutagird@mskcc.org
- Phone: 646-888-8361
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.