The need for social support in adult patients with cancer

Abstract

Background: Patients with cancer experience many emotional and psychological burdens as they encounter different disease stages and receive treatments. Social support plays a crucial role in the patients' function, emotions, and symptoms. The present study aimed to evaluate the viewpoint of adult patients with cancer about the role of social support to caring for them, describe their common social support demands, and discuss their experience different components of social support current situation that are available for older adults with cancer. Methods: Samples were selected from all adult patients hospitalized for at least 24 hours in a cancer referral center to receive the appropriate treatments. Among them, 12 patients who accepted to participate in the study were interviewed using semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions. Data analysis was performed by the qualitative content analysis approach. Results: According to the patients’ experiences, major social support concepts could be categorized as emotional, informational, and instrumental supports. They believed that social support needed to be enhanced in these three aspects, which each of them consisted of different needs. Conclusion: Patients with cancer are demanding social support, which could improve their psychological well-being and their quality of life. The health care providers need to pay attention to this demand, identify this need, and support the patients, properly.

Keywords

• Cancer
• Emotions
• Psychology
• Social support
• Psychosocial support systems