Determination of the relationship between the fatigue and social support levels of cancer patients: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cancer is seen as one of the most important health problems of our time. In the world and in our country, the most common death cause after cardiovascular diseases in the order of diseases that result in death is cancer. This descriptive, cross-sectional study is done in order to determine the relationship between fatigue and social support levels of cancer patients. METHODS: Research was carried out in Cukurova University Hospital in Adana, which is located in the south of Turkey, between December 2014 and December 2015. Data were collected by interview form prepared by the researcher, Piper Fatigue Scale and Social Support Patient Form. Data was analyzed by percentile, mean, independent t test, one-way analysis of variance, correlation and multiple regression. RESULTS: The average score of Social Support Patient Form is 131.1 ± 15.5, and Piper Fatigue Scale total score mean of the participants is 5.8 ± 2.4. A low level of negative correlation was found between the social support to cancer patients scale emotional support subdimension and the Piper Fatigue Scale affective subdimension. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the research, it was seen that the level of fatigue of the participants had moderate and level of perceived social support was positive. The age, marital status, and education status of the participants do not affect the fatigue and social support levels.