Social support and psychological and physical states among Japanese patients with breast cancer and their spouses prior to surgery.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To assess social support and psychological and physical states among Japanese patients with breast cancer and their spouses prior to surgery.

DESIGN

Descriptive, comparative, and correlational.

SETTING

A general hospital in northern Japan.

SAMPLE

38 Japanese patients with breast cancer and their spouses (N = 76).

METHODS

The Japanese versions of three questionnaires were used to collect data before surgery: the Interpersonal Relationship Inventory, the General Health Questionnaire, and the Physical States Interview Form.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES

Social support (support, conflict, and reciprocity), social network, and psychological and physical states.

FINDINGS

Significant differences were found in support and reciprocity between patients and their spouses. However, no significant differences were found in social network, conflict, or psychological states between patients and their spouses. Moreover, some significant correlations were found in the variables of conflict, social network, and psychological and physical states.

CONCLUSIONS

Japanese patients with breast cancer perceived more support and reciprocity than their spouses before their breast surgery. Conflict was significantly correlated with psychological states among Japanese women with breast cancer and their spouses.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Healthcare professionals need to consider social support as an important factor to help Japanese patients with breast cancer and their spouses cope with the disease.