Investigating the factors related to the social stigma of cancer in Tehran in 1401

Cancer is often stigmatized in many societies and this has unfortunate consequences for sufferers. The aim of this research was to know the factors related to the social stigma of cancer.

The research method was correlation-analytical, and the sampling method was multi-stage cluster. Data were collected using CSI and CAM standard questionnaires.The statistical population included three categories of ordinary citizens, medical staff, and companions of patients in Tehran; Using Cochran's formula, the sample size was 384, 201, 384 people, respectively. In order to fit the model and measure the relationships between the variables, the method of structural equation modeling was used in the form of AMOS software.

 Goodness of fit indices (chi-square/df=2.851, Rmsea=0.08, Cfi=0.945) all indicated the appropriate fit of the model. Except for the variable of inequality in treatment, other independent variables had a significant relationship with stigma. The r2 explanatory coefficient showed that the variables of habitus, optimism, cancer awareness, religiosity, social support, and social capital together predicted 48% of stigma changes. Habitus and social support with standard coefficients (beta) of 0.48 and -0.28 had the highest and lowest contribution in explaining stigma, respectively. Based on the mean difference test, the amount of stigma among ordinary people was more than the other two groups.

 Awareness of different aspects of cancer disease (such as symptoms, causative factors), removing false stereotypes about cancer (such as cancer means death), constant communication with cancer patients, and receiving the necessary social support from various sources, were the most important tools necessary to reduce the stigma of cancer.