Background and Aim: Distress is prevalent among people affected by cancer, particularly in regional Australia where the tyranny of distance creates inequities in access to cancer support services. Cancer Council Western Australia’s (CCWA) Regional Cancer Support Coordinators (CSCs) provide cancer patients and carers with supportive care in six regions: Great Southern, Hills, Midwest, Peel/Rockingham, South West, and Wheatbelt. In March 2013, CSCs were trained in distress management using the Distress Thermometer and Problem List (DT-PL). They started screening regional clients thereafter. The aim of this observational, cross-sectional study is to describe the characteristics of distress among cancer patients and carers in regional Western Australia.

Methods: All new clients (patients and carers) referred to CCWA CSCs, and clients interested in attending a cancer support group, were eligible for screening. Cancer Support Coordinators screened clients using the DT-PL, either face-to-face or by telephone, in conjunction with an in-depth assessment using a client assessment form. Preliminary distress screening data for 258 patients and 54 carers from 3 regions (Midwest, South West and Wheatbelt) have been analysed and are reported here for the 12 months from April 2013 to March 2014. The target screening data to be collated is for all six regions, representing almost 700 clients.

Results: We report results for the three regions collectively. The mean distress score was 5.4 (SD = 2.7), with 72% of clients scoring 4 or more on the DT-PL. A large proportion of clients reported emotional problems (86%) and physical problems (89%). The six most common problems reported were worry (67.6%), fatigue (64.7%), sadness (56.1%), fears (48.4%), sleep (47.8%), and memory/concentration (40.7%).

Conclusions: Priority areas of need among clients in regional Western Australia are within the emotional and physical domains. These data will assist cancer organisations to plan and to target future supportive care services to meet these priority needs.