title: Exposure to asbestos: psychological responses of mesothelioma patients.
abstract: Thirty-eight patients with a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma participated in a semi-structured interview to evaluate asbestos exposure, acquisition of increased risk information, and retrospective reporting of cognitive and behavioral reactions (particularly smoking behavior) to risk information. Twenty-eight patients (74%) had direct occupational contact with asbestos, and six patients (16%) reported indirect nonoccupational exposure to asbestos. Only two (10%) of the directly exposed patients acquired risk information from professional sources prior to diagnosis of mesothelioma. The most frequently reported reaction to learning of increased risk of cancer was a denial of the risk by minimizing personal exposure. Few patients reported being concerned about the information of increased risk. Smoking behavior did not change as a result of risk information, nor was there any increase in visits to physicians. Guidelines for psychosocial management of at-risk groups are recommended.
mesh_terms: D001194:Asbestos; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos