Whether the mesothelioma patient you’re caring for is a family member, friend, neighbor, or client, the responsibility creates intense levels of stress. Now a group of occupational medicine researchers in Rome has developed a new tool to gauge the extent of that psychological pain, facilitating faster relief for those who need it.
New Tool Measures Stress Levels Among Mesothelioma Caregivers
An article published in the journal Psycho-Oncology details the idea behind the Mesothelioma Psychological Distress Tool, Caregivers version, or MPDT-C. The researchers wanted to create a “short, flexible, and comprehensive tool” that could be administered to caregivers to detect psychological distress, and when needed, respond to it. Early assessments of its accuracy reveal its effectiveness.
Acknowledging the high levels of distress felt by the people who care for mesothelioma patients, the researchers designed a 47-question survey focused on three main stressors – Secondary Traumatic Stress, Engagement in Caring, and Meaningful Cognitive Restructuring — then tested its usefulness on a group of people currently caring for people with the rare and fatal asbestos-related disease.
Stress of Mesothelioma Care Can be Debilitating
Mesothelioma caregivers were tested in Italian medical centers where the patients they cared for were being treated. According to lead author Dr. Michela Bonafede of the Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority, “Results suggest that the MPDT-C is a reliable tool with which to detect the psychological distress of this traumatized population. Our study offers preliminary evidence in support of the adequate psychometric properties of the MPDT-C, and these should now be replicated.”
Whether you are caring for a mesothelioma patient or have been diagnosed with the rare disease yourself, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. To learn more, contact us today at 1-800-692-8608.
