Social Support and Health Related Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Social support has been linked with positive treatment outcomes for many chronic conditions including breast cancer, and it meaningfully reduces the stress originating from cancer diagnosis as well as improves emotional wellbeing. This study aims to assess the level of social support and HRQOL and its relationship among breast cancer patients over a period of 8 months in the two tertiary hospitals in Port Harcourt.

This was a descriptive longitudinal study that was conducted over a period of 8 months among 254 female patients with breast cancer in the two tertiary hospitals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. They were assessed at the time of diagnosis, 4 months and 8 months after using Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23). Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Frequency tables were used to demonstrate the outcome. Means and standard deviation for the continuous variables were calculated. In comparing differences in mean between evaluation times, Friedman ANOVA was used, Correlation co-efficient were used to determine correlation between HRQoL and Social support scores. Results considered statistically significant at P value ˂ .05.

The HRQoL and MSPSS scores were relatively high among the respondents. The respondents received high support through-out the evaluation time (62.5%). The high support was noticed more from family and the lowest social support was from friends, this was statistically significant, P =.007. HRQoL was high through-out the evaluation time and it was statistically significant. Correlation between the HRQoL and MSPSS was positive (Pearson correlation co-efficient = ˂0.29) and statistically significant P <.05.

Breast cancer women in Port Harcourt Nigeria had relatively good HRQoL and perceived social support was an important factor for the good HRQoL. It is important to pay close attention on events that enhance and maintain the social support system for breast cancer patients.