The cinema that cares: a psychological support project for women suffering from gynecological cancers is underway
An innovative complementary medicine project is underway, which uses cinema as a psychological support tool for women with gynecological cancers. Research, written by the professor Daniela Chieffo, Head of the Clinical Psychology Unit of the Agostino Gemelli IRCSS University Polyclinic Foundation, Professor of General Psychology at the Catholic University, campus in Rome, and from Marina Morra, MediCinema Manager at MediCinema Italia Onlus, is part of a series of new studies on the personalization of care.
“Personalized psychology - says Dr. Chieffo - intervenes through individualized tools. In this project the intervention model uses cinema as a clinical psychological work tool, with the aim of supporting patients in the process of developing the disease and facilitating the psyche-soma relationship, sometimes fractured by the disease or by the changes it entails ".
Research, which will kick off on 7 May, it will be punctuated by group meetings and film screenings, with three moments of psycho-oncological evaluation: at time zero, a 3 and the 6 months. The first group of patients involved in the research is made up of 15 women, followed at the UOC of Oncological Gynecology and the Day Hospital for Female Tumors of the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital Foundation IRCCS. Monitoring of a group of caregivers and family members of these patients is also envisaged.
"For this project - explains the Dr. Chieffo - films with positive solicitations were selected, which will help lead the group through a process of exploration, recognition and processing of psychological issues related to the oncological treatment path. The group constitutes a powerful emotional and cognitive tool for work and learning; cohesion develops within it, acceptance, the universalization of emotions, that allow us to discover that suffering is not only one's own but can be shared ".
"The structured use of selected film content - continues Dr. Chieffo, who is assisted in this project by the psychotherapists of the Gemelli Polyclinic Letizia Lafuenti e Ludovica Mastrilli - has the aim of tracing, by means of adequate clinical monitoring, a new model of intervention for the treatment and psychological support of patients suffering from oncological pathology, aimed at promoting health and psycho-physical well-being with a view to reintegration into life and autonomy, of facilitation in interpersonal and social dynamics, to a better management of the internal emotions that accompany the treatment process. We hope that patients will be able to experience transversal benefits in the different dimensions involved in the disease ".
The film programming will be fortnightly e, in compliance with anti Covid-19 procedures, will be streamed, thanks to the partnership of MediCinema Italia Onlus with Infinity+ e CHILI. Meetings between patients and psychologists are also scheduled on a digital platform.
"This project - comments Fulvia Salvi, President of MediCinema Italia Onlus - represents an important step in psychological experimental research for the protection of women in gynecological cancer treatment. Being able to use cinema as a cure can become a methodology and a valid clinical support tool for these pathologies. "
"Female cancer pathologies - concludes professor Giovanni Swaps, director of UOC Gynecology oncology and scientific director of the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital Foundation IRCCS, Full Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Catholic University of Sacred Heart - they are characterized by a complexity that must take into account not only the physical implications, but also psychological. The very essence of female identity is affected and this generates important psycho-social consequences. In addition to body care, it is therefore essential to take care of the psychic well-being of these patients, even with innovative tools such as cinema, to help them recover a good quality of life ".