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Cancer Patients' Social Relationships During 3 Years After Diagnosis-Generic and Cancer-Specific Social Networks.
Lehto, Ulla-Sisko; Ojanen, Markku; Lääperi, Silja; Kohonen, Mira; Härkänen, Tommi; Honkalampi, Kirsi; Turpeenniemi-Hujanen, Taina.
Afiliación
  • Lehto US; Population Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Mannerheimintie 166, PO B.O.X. 30, FI00271, Helsinki, Finland. ulla-sisko.lehto@thl.fi.
  • Ojanen M; Cancer Center, Oulu University Hospital (OYS), Oulu, Finland. ulla-sisko.lehto@thl.fi.
  • Lääperi S; Faculty of Social Sciences: Welfare Sciences, Psychology, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
  • Kohonen M; School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Joensuu, Finland.
  • Härkänen T; School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Joensuu, Finland.
  • Honkalampi K; Population Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Mannerheimintie 166, PO B.O.X. 30, FI00271, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Turpeenniemi-Hujanen T; School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Joensuu, Finland.
Int J Behav Med ; 2024 Jun 25.
Article en En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38918279
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Social relationships are important health resources and may be investigated as social networks. We measured cancer patients' social subnetworks divided into generic social networks (people known to the patients) and disease-specific social networks (the persons talked to about the cancer) during 3 years after diagnosis.

METHOD:

Newly diagnosed patients with localized breast cancer (n = 222), lymphoma (n = 102), and prostate cancer (n = 141) completed a questionnaire on their social subnetworks at 2-5 months after diagnosis and 9, 18, and 36 months thereafter. Generic and cancer-specific numbers of persons of spouse/partner; other family; close relatives, in detail; and friends were recorded as well as cancer-specific numbers of persons in acquaintances; others with cancer; work community; healthcare professionals; and religious, hobby, and civic participation. The data was analyzed with regression models.

RESULTS:

At study entry, most patients had a spouse/partner, all had close relatives (the younger, more often parents; and the older, more often adult children with families) and most also friends. The cancer was typically discussed with them, and often with acquaintances and other patients (74-86%). Only minor usually decreasing time trends were seen. However, the numbers of distant relatives and friends were found to strongly increase by the 9-month evaluation (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Cancer patients have multiple social relationships and usually talk to them about their cancer soon after diagnosis. Most temporal changes are due to the natural course of life cycle. The cancer widened the patients' social networks by including other patients and healthcare professionals and by an increased number of relatives and friends.
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Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Idioma: En Revista: Int J Behav Med Asunto de la revista: CIENCIAS DO COMPORTAMENTO Año: 2024 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Finlandia Pais de publicación: Reino Unido
Texto completo
Añadir a Mi BVS
Imprimir
XML
PubMed Links
Buscar en Google

Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Idioma: En Revista: Int J Behav Med Asunto de la revista: CIENCIAS DO COMPORTAMENTO Año: 2024 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Finlandia Pais de publicación: Reino Unido