Features of perception of psychosocial support of oncological patients at different stages of the disease

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Background. The cancer caused significant psychosocial consequences. Psychosocial problems of oncological patients are due to the following factors: impaired ability to work, social activity, interpersonal interaction, attachment to medical institutions, costs of treatment, stigma, and the prevalence of myths about cancer in society. The progression of the disease necessitates the need for external help and psychological support.
 Objective – to study the features of the perception of psychosocial support oncological patients at different stages of the disease.
 Materials and methods. On the base of informed consent, 286 oncological patients were examined: 174 women and 114 men. Patients examined at different stages of the treatment process, namely, at the first episode of the disease – 78 women and 51 men, and after return of the disease or its relapse – 96 women and 63 men. We used such research methods: clinical anamnestic, psychodiagnostic, statistical. The study used the FACES-3 methodology, “Multidimensional Scale of Perception of Social Support” (MSPSS).
 Results. The cancer progression accompanied by an increasing patients’ needs in psychosocial support. The level of family adaptation played an important role in patients’ ability to perceive and receive psychosocial support during treatment of the disease. “Adapted” families had sufficient supportive potential, whereas in families with signs of maladaptation, especially “maladapted” patients did not feel or received sufficient care, which exacerbated their level of mental distress.
 Conclusions. Psychosocial help is an important component of medical- psychological measures. Psychosocial support is especially important during the progression of the disease.