The effect of psycho educational program on social anxiety among cancer patients

Cancer is one of the life-threatening diseases that produces the numerous changes in life including communications and social activities. Cancerous patients have some degree of anxiety. The present study aimed at determining the effects of an educational program on social anxiety in cancerous patients. In this randomized case and control research, 52 cancerous patients referring to Seyyedoshohada hospital of Isfahan were selected through sampling method, based on the aim of the study, and were then randomly divided into 2 groups (cases: 28 patients, controls: 24 individuals) The cases filled out the social anxiety questionnaire before the study and one month later. Psychological intervention was made against the experimental (the cases) group. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software (V: 13), descriptive and referential statistics, at the4 significant level P<0.05. Mean of social anxiety decreased from 58.66±17.4 to 47.06±12.03 in the cases. Independent t-test revealed a significant difference, regarding social anxiety, between the two groups (P=0.001).Besides, paired T-test showed a significant difference in social anxiety in the cases before and after intervention (P=0.002). But, a significant difference was not observed between the pre-, post-intervention in the social anxiety of the control group. Psychological intervention, based social anxiety reduction, would be a successful approach in promoting mental health of cancerous patients.