Relationship Between Hope and Social Support in Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers

Background and purpose: After a cancer diagnosis, anxiety and stress is a common and common reaction, and for some people, coping with the diagnosis and treatment can lead to psychological, social and spiritual crises that have a significant impact on daily functioning. It seems that hope can be helpful in dealing with these conditions. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the relationship between hope and social support in cancer patients and their caregivers.Materials and Methods: The present study is a descriptive study of correlation. The research population included all adult patients with gastrointestinal cancer referred to medical centers in Shiraz and their caregivers. The research sample consisted of ۲۲۴ people (۱۱۲ patients with gastrointestinal cancer and ۱۱۲ caregivers of patients with gastrointestinal cancer) who referred to Amir Oncology Centers, Shahid Motahari Clinic and Imam Reza (AS) Clinic in the months of May to August ۲۰۱۸. They were selected by the available method. Data were collected with three forms of demographic characteristics, social support questionnaire and Miller's hope scale. Data analysis was done with SPSS ۲۳ software and using inferential statistics including Pearson's correlation coefficient test and linear regression model, and in cases where the variables did not have the Norman distribution, the non-parametric equivalent of the above tests was used.Results: The mean (standard deviation) of hope in patients and caregivers was ۱۹۵.۲۰ (۲۴.۹۲) and ۱۹۰.۹۵ (۲۴.۲۰), respectively. Also, the mean (standard deviation) of social support in patients and caregivers was ۹۷.۳۹ (۱۱.۷۳) and ۸۹.۱۰ (۱۲.۸۴) respectively. According to the Pearson correlation test, there was a direct and relatively strong relationship between the mean score of hope and social support in patients (p<۰.۰۵). According to the results of the present study, the highest correlation between the hope score and social support was in the family dimension (r=۰.۵۸۸) and the lowest correlation was with the friends dimension (r=۰.۴۷۵).According to the Pearson correlation test, there was a direct relationship between the mean score of hope and social support in caregivers (p<۰.۰۵). According to the results of the present study, the highest correlation between the hope score and social support was in the family dimension (r=۰.۴۹۷) and the lowest correlation was with the friends dimension (r=۰.۲۳۳).Conclusion: The results showed that there was a significant and positive relationship between hope and social support in cancer patients and their caregivers. Also, these patients and their caregivers had a good level of hope and social support.