The effect of the social support perceived by the women receiving chemotherapy on functional and psychosocial conditions: A cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Today, cancer is one of the most important health problems with fatal results. Individuals with cancer have to cope with many functional and psychosocial problems in the course of the disease besides physical impairments. The effect of social support of women receiving chemotherapy on their functional and psychosocial conditions was determined. Methods: This study had a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational design. The study was conducted with 330 women patients in a state hospital located in Istanbul, Turkey, which has an outpatient chemotherapy unit and is one of the hospitals where outpatient chemotherapy is applied most. Results: In the study, it was determined that there was a very high positive correlation between the social support perceived by the women with cancer and self-esteem and a very high negative correlation of self-esteem with fatigue and depression (P < 0.001). In contrast, there was a very high negative correlation between social support and self-esteem with many of the functional symptoms and a very high positive correlation between social support and self-esteem with fatigue and depression (P < 0.001). Education, number of children, economic situation, family structure, self-esteem, fatigue, and depression variables explained 33% of cancer patients’ social support. Conclusion: The management of the functional and psychosocial symptoms of women with cancer is closely related to the perceived social support. In the management of the functional and psychosocial symptoms of women with cancer, it is important to provide and maintain psychological support by involving the patients’ families in the treatment process.