Abstract 3457: Social support as emotional adjustment determinant of breast cancer patients after surgery in selected hospitals in Nigeria

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer and a leading cause of premature mortality for females worldwide. It accounts for 16% of all female cancers; 18.2% of all cancer deaths globally are from breast cancer. Social support plays a major role in modifying negative effect of this disease on affected individuals. It is an important psychosocial resource for coping with stressful life events. This study was carried out to examine social support as determinant of emotional adjustment of breast cancer patients after surgery in selected hospitals in Ibadan, Nigeria. This cross-sectional descriptive survey utilized a quantitative approach. A sample of two hundred and eighteen patients was randomly selected from hospitals in Ibadan. The respondents were reassured of confidentiality of the data. The instrument used basically was self-structured questionnaire. Data were collected, coded and analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient. The respondents’ ages were between 21- 51 years; 87.2% were females, majority of them (81.6%) were Christians, more than half (62.4%) were married, about one third (31.2%) had higher qualifications, 55.0% were civil servants and 74.3% were living with other family members. Result findings show that instrumental support had significant effect on emotional adjustment of the breast cancer patients after surgery. Family and friends helping the patients had a positive effect on their emotional adjustment. Therefore, it was revealed that instrumental support had a positive effect on emotional adjustment of the patients (r.cal = .217, r. critical = .195, P < 0.05). Also, emotional support had a significant effect on emotional adjustment of the patients after surgery. Having family members and friends to talk to and help with personal problems was helpful to emotional adjustment. Thus it was evident that emotional support had a positive effect on emotional adjustment (r. cal = .250, r. critical = .195, P < 0.05) The patients admitted that they had friends and family members who helped them and were a source of comfort to them. This helped them to show a better psychological and emotional adjustment to breast cancer than those who did not have support. It is recommended that adequate attention be given to financial, material and emotional needs of the breast cancer patient. Keywords: Social support, determinant, emotional adjustment, breast cancer patients. Citation Format: Christiana Oluseun Oyewusi, Samuel Oyebode Oyewusi. Social support as emotional adjustment determinant of breast cancer patients after surgery in selected hospitals in Nigeria. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3457.

Social and Institutional Support in Breast Cancer Management among Elderly Women in Nigeria

“…Though it has not been established scientifically, this kind of support has been revealed to increase the quality of life and help promote recovery and patients who have some sort of social support have quicker recovery and better survival [16]. In another study on the importance of social support in the management of breast cancer, it was revealed that such support had a significant effect on emotional adjustment of the patients after surgery as this often comes in form of family and friends who talk to and help the patients with personal problems [17]. This can be explained by the fact that these patients from such relationships and interactions develop resilience against the diseases while nurturing the feeling that they are not alone in the fight.…”

“…This institutional support more often than not comes from the church and herbal homes due to the belief that breast cancer is more spiritual than medical. In this kind of situation, the disease is viewed as caused by evil arrows from enemies and as such demands more for spiritual healing more than medical [17]. Unfortunately, when confronted with breast cancer, most women in Nigeria usually seek help from religious institutions more than medical attention, leading to late detection and a high mortality rate.…”

Social Support and Health Related Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

“…This kind of support has been revealed to increase the quality of life and help promote recovery and patients who have some sort of social support have quicker recovery and better survival" [15]. "In another study on the importance of social support in the management of breast cancer, it was revealed that such support had a significant effect on emotional adjustment of the patients after surgery as this often comes in form of family and friends who talk to and help the patients with personal problems" [16]. "This can be explained by the fact that these patients from such relationships and interactions develop resilience against the diseases while nurturing the feeling that they are not alone in the fight.…”