Objective: Well established links between cardiovascular disease (CVD), depression and survival have led to recommendations that patients should be screened for depression symptoms. Standardised, well validated screening tools may be required to reduce under-detection that occurs with clinical judgment alone. The Psycho-Oncology Service at the Calvary Mater Newcastle successfully implemented a computerised, two-step screening approach into routine oncology care. All patients are initially screened with a brief measure. Those identified as positive then go on to complete a longer and more specific measure. Feasibility of this approach for CVD patients (stroke and heart disease) is now being evaluated. The project aims to determine patient acceptability of the touchscreen assessment approach, and to develop a screening algorithm that enables identification of those who are potentially depressed while keeping the screening procedure as short as possible for those unlikely to be depressed.
Methods: Stroke and cardiac rehabilitation patients are being recruited from Hunter New England Health Service and are undergoing a detailed assessment including diagnostic and self-report (pencil and paper and computer administered) depression measures.
Results: Data describing performance of the selected measures (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value) and patient acceptability of the process will be presented.
Conclusions: Touchscreen assessment may enable standardised, routine screening of depression in CVD services with consistency and accuracy in the administration, scoring and interpretation of the results and minimal staffing resources. Phase 2 of the project will evaluate impact on referral and uptake of treatment for those identified as potentially having depression.