Investigation of Hope, Social Support Level, Relationship, and Affecting Factors in Patients with Gynecological Cancer

INTRODUCTION: Cancer is a deadly disease that affects individuals deeply. The hope of healing of patients and the social support they receive are important in coping with cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the hope and social support levels of patients with gynecological cancer and the relationship between them, and the factors affecting hope and social support.
METHODS: This is an analytical cross-sectional study. Random sampling method was applied in sample selection. One hundred fifteen women with gynecological cancer, whose treatment is still ongoing, were included in the study. The data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, Herth Hope Index, and Cancer Patient Social Support Scale. For statistical analysis, number and percentage calculation, multiple linear regression analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis were used.
RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 58.91 ± 8.68 years; 77.3% were primary school graduates, and 76.5% were married. The mean score of the Herth Hope Index of the patients was 34.80 ± 4.92, and the mean score of the Cancer Patient Social Support Scale was 132.76 ± 21.36. A positive significant and moderate relationship was found between the Herth Hope Index mean score and the Cancer Patient Social Support Scale mean score (r = 0.664, P <.001). According to the regression analysis, the hope level of women with the disease in the second stage was higher (B = 4.163, P <.05), and the social support level of women with medium or high income was higher (B = 10.502, P <.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The stage of the cancer affects the hope level, and the income level affects the social support. The hope level of patients with second-stage gynecological cancer is higher. The higher the income level, the higher the level of social support. In patients with gynecological cancer, patients with high social support scores received from the family have high hope scores. It is thought that efforts to evaluate and increase the social support that patients receive from the family can be effective in increasing the hope levels of the patients.