Paul Cafarella

Paul Cafarella

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

School of Psychology

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences


I'm a Health Psychologist with a history of developing and coordinating behaviour change programmes for respiratory populations in the southern metropolitan area of Adelaide. My research interests include the assessment, treatment and consequences of mental health problems in people with chronic diseases (particularly respiratory illnesses and motor neurone disease) and their carers; non-pharmacological methods of treatment including behaviour change programmes; illness perceptions; adherence, social stigma and social networks in disabled populations. Currently, my research is focussed on the application of behaviour change theory and techniques to improve interventions for the psychological well-being of carers of people with motor neurone disease.

  • Journals

    Year Citation
    2023 Williams, M. T., Lewthwaite, H., Paquet, C., Cafarella, P., & Frith, P. (2023). Pulmonary Rehabilitation with and without a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Breathlessness in People Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(23), 20 pages.
    DOI
    2022 Cafarella, P., Effing, T., & Chur-Hansen, A. (2022). Interventions targeting psychological well-being for motor neuron disease carers: A systematic review. Palliative and Supportive Care, 21(2), 1-17.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1
    2021 Aoun, S. M., Cafarella, P. A., Rumbold, B., Thomas, G., Hogden, A., Jiang, L., . . . Kissane, D. W. (2021). Who cares for the bereaved? A national survey of family caregivers of people with motor neurone disease. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 22(1-2), 12-22.
    DOI Scopus16 WoS7 Europe PMC9
    2021 Aoun, S. M., Cafarella, P. A., Hogden, A., Thomas, G., Jiang, L., & Edis, R. (2021). Why and how the work of Motor Neurone Disease Associations matters before and during bereavement: a consumer perspective. Palliative Care and Social Practice, 15, 18 pages.
    DOI Scopus9 WoS2 Europe PMC6
    2020 Frith, P., Sladek, R., Woodman, R., Effing, T., Bradley, S., van Asten, S., . . . Phillips, P. A. (2020). Pragmatic randomised controlled trial of a personalised intervention for carers of people requiring home oxygen therapy. Chronic Respiratory Disease, 17, 1-11.
    DOI Scopus1
    2020 Aoun, S. M., Kissane, D. W., Cafarella, P. A., Rumbold, B., Hogden, A., Jiang, L., & Bear, N. (2020). Grief, depression, and anxiety in bereaved caregivers of people with motor neurone disease: a population-based national study. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 21(7-8), 593-605.
    DOI Scopus18 WoS8 Europe PMC10
    2020 Alsubaiei, M. E., Frith, P. A., Cafarella, P. A., Quinnd, S., Al Moamary, M. S., McEvoy, R. D., & Effing, T. W. (2020). Effects of COPD guideline training on physicians' knowledge and awareness. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 24(7), 726-728.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1
    2019 Lenferink, A., van der Palen, J., van der Valk, P. D. L. P. M., Cafarella, P., van Veen, A., Quinn, S., . . . Effing, T. W. (2019). Exacerbation action plans for patients with COPD and comorbidities: A randomised controlled trial. European Respiratory Journal, 54(5), 13 pages.
    DOI Scopus30 WoS24 Europe PMC17
    2018 Harris, M., Thomas, G., Thomas, M., Cafarella, P., Stocks, A., Greig, J., & McEvoy, R. D. (2018). Supporting wellbeing in motor neurone disease for patients, carers, social networks, and health professionals: A scoping review and synthesis.. Palliative & supportive care, 16(2), 228-237.
    DOI Scopus21 WoS18 Europe PMC9
    2018 Alsubaiei, M., Cafarella, P., Frith, P., McEvoy, R., & Effing, T. (2018). Factors influencing management of chronic respiratory diseases in general and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in particular in Saudi Arabia: An overview. Annals of Thoracic Medicine, 13(3), 144-149.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS12 Europe PMC10
    2017 Alsubaiei, M. E., Frith, P. A., Cafarella, P. A., Quinn, S., Moamary, M. S. A., McEvoy, R. D., & Effing, T. W. (2017). COPD care in Saudi Arabia: Physicians' awareness and knowledge of guidelines and barriers to implementation. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 21(5), 592-595.
    DOI Scopus15 WoS13 Europe PMC13
    2017 Alison, J. A., McKeough, Z. J., Johnston, K., McNamara, R. J., Spencer, L. M., Jenkins, S. C., . . . Holland, A. E. (2017). Australian and New Zealand Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines. Respirology, 22(4), 800-819.
    DOI Scopus206 WoS157 Europe PMC90
    2016 Alsubaiei, M., Cafarella, P., Frith, P., McEvoy, R., & Effing, T. (2016). Barriers for setting up a pulmonary rehabilitation program in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Annals of Thoracic Medicine, 11(2), 121-127.
    DOI Scopus19 WoS16 Europe PMC15
    2016 Effing, T. W., Vercoulen, J. H., Bourbeau, J., Trappenburg, J., Lenferink, A., Cafarella, P., . . . Van Der Palen, J. (2016). Definition of a COPD self-management intervention: International expert group consensus. European Respiratory Journal, 48(1), 46-54.
    DOI Scopus144 WoS119 Europe PMC83
    2016 Cafarella, P., Effing, T., Hancock, K., & Frith, P. (2016). Partners in COPD management in the primary care setting. Medicine Today, 17(1-2), 26-34.
    2015 Williams, M. T., Cafarella, P., Paquet, C., & Frith, P. (2015). Cognitive behavioral therapy for management of dyspnea: A pilot study. Respiratory Care, 60(9), 1303-1313.
    DOI Scopus11 WoS8 Europe PMC5
    2015 Wiles, L., Cafarella, P., & Williams, M. T. (2015). Exercise training combined with psychological interventions for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology, 20(1), 46-55.
    DOI Scopus23 WoS20 Europe PMC13
    2015 Alsubaiei, M., Cafarella, P., Frith, P., Doug McEvoy, R., & Effing, T. (2015). Current care services provided for patients with COPD in the Eastern province in Saudi Arabia: a descriptive study. International Journal of COPD, 10(1), 2379-2391.
    DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC4
    2015 Barton, C., Effing, T., & Cafarella, P. (2015). Social support and social networks in COPD: A scoping review. COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 12(6), 690-702.
    DOI Scopus61 WoS54 Europe PMC31
    2014 Effing, T. W., Lenferink, A., Buckman, J., Spicer, D., Cafarella, P. A., Burt, M. G., . . . van der Palen, J. (2014). Development of a self-treatment approach for patients with COPD and comorbidities: an ongoing learning process. Journal of Thoracic Disease, 6(11), 1597-1605.
    DOI Scopus11 WoS11 Europe PMC4
    2013 Lenferink, A., Frith, P., van der Valk, P., Buckman, J., Sladek, R., Cafarella, P., . . . Effing, T. (2013). A self-management approach using self-initiated action plans for symptoms with ongoing nurse support in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and comorbidities: The COPE-III study protocol. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 36(1), 81-89.
    DOI Scopus31 WoS24 Europe PMC18
    2013 Cafarella, P. A., Effing, T. W., Barton, C., Ahmed, D., & Frith, P. A. (2013). Management of depression and anxiety in COPD. European Respiratory Monograph, 59, 144-163.
    DOI Scopus3
    2012 Paddison, J. S., Cafarella, P., & Frith, P. (2012). Use of an Australian quality of life tool in patients with COPD. COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 9(6), 585-595.
    DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC1
    2012 Williams, M. T., Petkov, J., Olds, T. S., Cafarella, P., & Frith, P. (2012). A Reduction in the use of volunteered descriptors of air hunger is associated with increased walking distance in people with COPD. Respiratory Care, 57(9), 1431-1441.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS3
    2012 Cafarella, P., Effing, T., Usmani, Z., & Frith, P. (2012). Treatments for anxiety and depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a literature review. Respirology, 17(4), 627-638.
    DOI Scopus89 WoS64 Europe PMC59
    2010 Williams, M., Cafarella, P., Olds, T., Petkov, J., & Frith, P. (2010). Affective descriptors of the sensation of breathlessness are more highly associated with severity of impairment than physical descriptors in people with COPD. Chest, 138(2), 315-322.
    DOI Scopus41 WoS34 Europe PMC27
    2009 Williams, M. T., Olds, T., Petkov, J., Cafarella, P., & Frith, P. (2009). Response. Chest, 135(4), 1112-1113.
    DOI WoS1 Europe PMC1
    2009 Williams, M., Garrard, A., Cafarella, P., Petkov, J., & Frith, P. (2009). Quality of recalled dyspnoea is different from exercise-induced dyspnoea: An experimental study. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, 55(3), 177-183.
    DOI Scopus14 WoS15 Europe PMC8
    2008 Humphreys, K., Cross, G., Frith, P., & Cafarella, P. (2008). Nutritional status and dietary intake of outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Nutrition and Dietetics, 65(2), 168-174.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS7
    2008 Williams, M., Cafarella, P., Olds, T., Petkov, J., & Frith, P. (2008). The language of breathlessness differentiates between patients with COPD and age-matched adults. Chest, 134(3), 489-496.
    DOI Scopus56 WoS48 Europe PMC28
    2008 Frith, P. A., Cafarella, P. A., & Duffy, J. M. (2008). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major personal and public health burden in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 32(2), 139-141.
    DOI Scopus11 WoS8 Europe PMC9
    2007 Williams, M., Sorich, M., Cafarella, P., & Petkov, J. (2007). Thirty-count breathlessness score: Reliability, sensitivity, specificity and validity. Respirology, 12(5), 724-731.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC3
    2006 Williams, M., De Palma, L., Cafarella, P., & Petkov, J. (2006). Fifteen-Count Breathlessness Score in adults with COPD. Respirology, 11(5), 627-632.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC4
    2001 Cafarella, P. (2001). Psychological status of copd patients and their carers are linked. Respirology, 6(SUPPL. 1).
    2001 Cafarella, P., & Frith, P. (2001). Carers' assessment of patient social adjustment following pulmonary rehabilitation. Respirology, 6(SUPPL. 1).
  • Conference Papers

    Year Citation
    2016 ALsubaiei, M., Frith, P. A., Cafarella, P. A., Quinn, S., Al Moamary, M. S., McEvoy, R. D., & Effing, T. W. (2016). Assessing knowledge, adherence and barriers to implement COPD guidelines in COPD care in Saudi Arabia. In EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL Vol. 48 (pp. 2 pages). EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD.
    DOI WoS1
  • Conference Items

    Year Citation
    2017 Alsubaiei, M. E., Frith, P. A., Cafarella, P. A., Quinn, S., Al Moamary, M. S., McEvoy, R. D., & Effing, T. W. (2017). EFFECTS OF COPD GUIDELINE TRAINING ON PHYSICIANS' AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE AND READINESS TO IMPLEMENT GUIDELINES: A CLUSTER RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL. Poster session presented at the meeting of RESPIROLOGY. WILEY.

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