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 & 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.
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)
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.