Social support for cancer patients in Croatia: a cross-sectional study

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: The study included 81 participants with colon, breast and lung cancer, of whom 49 (60%) were women and 32 (40%) were men, divided into three groups according to the type of cancer, one month after surgery and oncological treatment. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and data from medical records were used.

Results: Lung cancer patients rated their health as moderate or poor, whereas those with breast cancer reported their health as very good or good (χ2 test, p = 0.003). Participants with colon cancer rated social support from family (Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.02) and social support from friends (Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.005) significantly better than patients with lung or breast cancer.

Conclusion: Overall social support was rated significantly better by colon cancer patients compared to those with lung or breast cancer. Social support plays an important role in the treatment of cancer patients, and the study findings could help to develop personalized interventions and support programs for these individuals.