Ethical considerations in screening head and neck cancer patients for psychosocial distress

Rationale Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and survivors are a particularly vulnerable group with disproportionately high levels of psychosocial distress. Untreated psychosocial distress among HNC patients has consistently been associated with poorer health and psychosocial outcomes. Screening for distress (SFD) allows health care providers to identify and monitor patient’s distress, and when needed, to subsequently provide appropriate psychosocial supports that aim to reduce suffering and improve patients’ overall well-being. However, despite mounting evidence for the benefits of SFD some oncology centers continue to neglect SFD in HNC patients and survivors, thereby depriving these patients of the opportunity to have their unmet psychosocial needs appropriately addressed. The present paper reviews SFD literature and explores ethical considerations in screening HNC patients and for distress.