Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with mesothelioma and their carers
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with mesothelioma and their carers

Bethany Taylor Research associate, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, Division of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England
Angela Tod Professor of older people and care, Health Sciences School, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, Division of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England
Clare Gardiner Senior research fellow, Health Sciences School, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, Division of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England
Lorraine Creech Head of nursing, Mesothelioma UK, Leicester, England
Faye Forde Senior business manager, Mesothelioma UK, Leicester, England
Liz Darlison Head of services, Mesothelioma UK, Leicester, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To improve your knowledge of mesothelioma

  • To familiarise yourself with the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the healthcare of people with mesothelioma

  • To understand how to ensure that people with mesothelioma receive quality care and support during the COVID-19 pandemic

Mesothelioma is a rare, life-limiting and aggressive cancer with a high symptom burden. This article explores the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the experiences of patients with mesothelioma and their carers. The charity Mesothelioma UK conducted a service evaluation that included two surveys – one with patients with mesothelioma and their carers, and the other with UK mesothelioma clinical nurse specialists – to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article presents the results of these surveys, which suggest that patients with mesothelioma and their carers have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in various areas. These include treatment and investigations, communication with healthcare teams, confusion concerning shielding, and the emotional and psychological burden of the pandemic. The authors include recommendations for practice to ensure patients and their families receive optimal treatment and support during the remainder of the pandemic.

Cancer Nursing Practice. doi: 10.7748/cnp.2021.e1773

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

btaylor3@sheffield.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Taylor BH, Tod AM, Gardiner C et al (2021) Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with mesothelioma and their carers. Cancer Nursing Practice. doi: 10.7748/cnp.2021.e1773

Published online: 31 March 2021

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