SOCIAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND RELATIONSHIP WITH HOPE IN CANCER PATIENTS REFFERRED TO ARDABIL IMAM KHOMEINI MEDICAL CENTER

Hope is an important coping resource for cancer patients. Several factors are
involved in the promotion hope. One of those factors is the social support. Social support groups often
has been formed by family members, relatives, friends and medical personal. The purpose of study was
investigation the social support provided by family and friends and relationship with hope in cancer
patients refferred to Ardabil Imam Khomeini medical center.
Material & Methods: This descriptive-correlational study done in Imam Khomeini medical center. 230
cancer patients having confirmed cancer diagnosis with using a convenience sampling method admitted
to an medical center affiliated to Ardabil Univ Med Sci The data were collected by a questionnaire
including three sections of demographic characteristics, Herth Hope Index and Vaux Social Support and
analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistical tests contains frequencies, percentile, mean, standard
deviation and pearson correlation coefficients.
Results: The mean score of hope was 32.4 from total scores ranging between 12 and 48. The mean score
of social support was 64.1 from total scores ranging between 23 and 92. The mean score of social support
provided from friends and family was 27.3 and 36.8 from total scores ranging between 11-44 and 12-
48. Relation between hope and social support provided by family and friends was significant. (p=/001
and r =/73(
Conclusion: The study findings showed moderate to high score of hope and social support provided
from family and friends in cancer patients. Accordingly, the role of family and friends should be
considered in developing care plans for this patients specialy in groups with low support and hope