Effect of Social Support on Resilience among Breast Cancer Patients in Rawalpindi and Islamabad

Abstract

Background: Social support has been played a very important role in cancer patients’ life. It has great impact over the resilience of the patients. It helps patient to reduce stress, discomfort or psychological issues during journey of cancer. Objectives: Current study was conducted to assess the effect of social support in resilience among breast cancer patients in public and private hospitals or clinics in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. It also aimed to find out effect of socio demographics factors on resilience. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out at public and private hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. A total of 180 respondents, from these hospitals were selected through non-probability consecutive sampling for the purpose of the study. Berlin social support scale and Connor Davidson Resilience scale were used to assess social support and resilience respectively. Independent sample t-test and one way ANOVA was applied to check the association of resilience with socio-demographic factors and correlation and regression were used to check the effect of social support on resilience. For both test p-value <0.001 was considered significant . Results: Out of total 180 respondents, majority respondents were 25 -50 (n=229, 57.3%) and were graduated (n=142, 78.9%). Sixty nine percent respondents were employed. Most of the participants were married (n=142, 78.9%). It was found that mean social support score (43±7.4) and mean resilience score (58±, 10.9). Analysis showed that major determinant for resilience was social support and was predicted positive impact on resilience (R2= 0.42, p value< 0.001) Conclusion: This study demonstrated that mostly patients had moderate social support and moderate resilience. There was no correlation between socio demographics variables and resilience but social support and resilience are positively correlated. Keywords: Assessment, Association, Berlin social support scale, Breast cancer, Connor Davidson Resilience scale, Hospitals, Patients, Psychological issues.