The Emotional Impact of Surveillance for Pancreatic Cancer

Summary

Due to its rarity a population screening program for pancreatic cancer is not possible. For this reason, considering background data on genetic predisposition and familiarity for this lethal tumor, efforts have been pushed to build up surveillance programs for subjects at high-risk of pancreatic cancer, due to familiarity and/or genetic predisposition. These programs are based on radiological examinations (such as MRI or endoultrasonography) and laboratory tests. However, little is known about the psychological burden of these programs. Only a handful of studies investigated, in various ways, how the participation in surveillance programs for pancreatic cancer may burden the psychological status, with a consequent possible impairment of the psychological wellbeing, and a higher risk of withdraw from the surveillance program itself. The aim of this study was to assess the psychological and emotional impact in high-risk individuals participating in a surveillance program for pancreatic cancer due to familiarity and/or to genetic predisposition, using specific psychological tools, such as multiple psychological questionnaires, investigating different functioning areas, administered by a clinical psychologist.

Conditions

• Pancreatic Cancer
• Psychological Distress

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Barratt Simplified Measure of Social Status (BSMSS)

Questionnaire that evaluates cultural identity, educational level and occupation of the subject and the subject's parents and spouse (if any)

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF)

Used to measure overall levels of functionality of an individual

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES)

Psychometric scale that is designed to assess optimistic self-beliefs to cope with a variety of difficult demands in life

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

To assess the perceived stress

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief COPE),

It evaluates the subject's coping style through investigation of problem-solving abilities and emotional fluctuation, as a response to stressful situations

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)

to explore the subject's social support system

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-07-01

Primary Completion

2021-07-31

Completion

2021-12-31

Countries

• Italy

Study Locations