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SOCIAL SUPPORT NEEDS AND ADJUSTMElrlT OF CANCER PATIENTS
Abstract
Background: Given the limited health care funds and increasing survival from cancer,
services should be targeted to meet patients' post-trea rment need.
Objectives: To identify which of the needs that patienis consider important; examine how
they compare the role of the family, nurses and friends in meeting these needs; and assess the
relationship between social support and adjustment tc8 cancer.
Setting: Radiotherapy clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Measurements: A 29-item needs questionnaire for assessing patients' expressedand perceived
informational, physical (reltef of pain), emotional and instrumental (economic) needs1
support from family, friends and nurses; and indicts of social adjustment (self-esteem,
coping, acceptance).
Subjects: Seventy two (20 males and 52 females) consc!cutive attendees mean age, 41.1, SD
12.7.
Results: The highest needs expressed were physical 195.8%) and informational (81.7%),
while emotional support was the most perceived as provided. Nurses and families were
similarly perceived as significant providers of tota social support, with nurses being
identified as best providers of physical and instrumental support. Over 75% felt socially
adjusted. Informational support was the most imp01 tant predictor of social adjustment,
while total social support predicted self-esteem.
Conclusion: The findings support previous work indic: rting that clinicians should drop their
reticence and provide adequate information to canc rr patients and their relatives. Staff
social support is appreciated by patients and is predicti r.e of social adjustment. Policy makers
should consider social welfare measures to relieve thc burden of cancer on families.
services should be targeted to meet patients' post-trea rment need.
Objectives: To identify which of the needs that patienis consider important; examine how
they compare the role of the family, nurses and friends in meeting these needs; and assess the
relationship between social support and adjustment tc8 cancer.
Setting: Radiotherapy clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Measurements: A 29-item needs questionnaire for assessing patients' expressedand perceived
informational, physical (reltef of pain), emotional and instrumental (economic) needs1
support from family, friends and nurses; and indicts of social adjustment (self-esteem,
coping, acceptance).
Subjects: Seventy two (20 males and 52 females) consc!cutive attendees mean age, 41.1, SD
12.7.
Results: The highest needs expressed were physical 195.8%) and informational (81.7%),
while emotional support was the most perceived as provided. Nurses and families were
similarly perceived as significant providers of tota social support, with nurses being
identified as best providers of physical and instrumental support. Over 75% felt socially
adjusted. Informational support was the most imp01 tant predictor of social adjustment,
while total social support predicted self-esteem.
Conclusion: The findings support previous work indic: rting that clinicians should drop their
reticence and provide adequate information to canc rr patients and their relatives. Staff
social support is appreciated by patients and is predicti r.e of social adjustment. Policy makers
should consider social welfare measures to relieve thc burden of cancer on families.
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