An efficient method for psychosocial screening of cancer patients.

In high-volume outpatient areas, using Weisman and Worden's Omega instruments for psychosocial screening of cancer patients is not feasible. This study of 30 newly diagnosed patients compared the accuracy of the Omega instruments and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) in identifying patients with high levels of distress at the time of diagnosis as well as in predicting future distress. A significant level of agreement was found between the BSI and the Omega instruments. Both instruments correctly identified the future distress of 16 of 19 patients (84.2%), but the BSI screens patients in one-fourth the time and at one-third the cost. These results support our decision to employ the BSI as a screening tool in an outpatient setting.