Purpose: To discuss social support among women with breast cancer in rural
communities in southern Thailand.
Design: Qualitative research that allowed researchers to understand the lived
experiences of women living with breast cancer and social support.
Methods: In-depth interviewing and drawing methods were adopted with
20 women with breast cancer. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the
data.
Findings: Most women with breast cancer received three types of social support:
emotional support, tangible support, and informational support. Most
support came from family members and relatives. Religion was also a form of
social support for women. Many women, however, received insufficient social
support from healthcare providers. This reduced their capacity to manage their
illness, thus impacting their well-being.
Conclusions: Various forms of support are essential for women with breast
cancer so that they can better cope with their condition.
Clinical Relevance: Nurses and other health professionals are an important
source of social support for women with breast cancer. Through having an understanding
of and being sensitive to these women’s experiences, culture, and
challenges, nurses and healthcare professionals can provide more individualized
support and care to women during a vulnerable period of their life. We
contend that the cultural perspectives of patients are crucial in nursing science.
Nurses need to appreciate the importance of culture for the support of patients
with breast cancer