Psychosocial well-being among patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma

The investigators conducted a psychosocial needs assessment of mesothelioma patients through self-report measures of quality of life (QOL), coping, depression, and social support.

Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) (N = 67) completed a battery of assessments at a single timepoint after being approached during routine medical oncology clinic appointments or by letter.

Participants were predominately male (70.0%; n = 47) and ranged in age from 35 to 83 years old (M = 65.61, SD = 9.71). Most participants were white (88.0%; n = 59), and 10.0% (n = 7) were identified as Hispanic. The majority were married or living with a partner (93.0%; n = 62) and had some college or more education (64.0%; n = 43). Fourteen percent of participants (n = 11) endorsed significantly elevated depression symptoms. No significant demographic or clinical differences in depressed compared to nondepressed participants were observed, with a trend toward those identifying as Hispanic and those who were divorced as being more likely to be depressed. For the total sample, the most frequently endorsed coping strategies were active coping, emotional support, and acceptance.

The present study did not identify any clear correlates of depression or QOL among patients with MPM. This research contributes to the small literature on psychosocial functioning in patients with MPM and provides putative directions for future larger studies and the development of interventions to provide appropriate support to diverse patients with MPM.