Association between cancer related fatigue and social support in patients after breast cancer chemotherapy in Changsha / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the association between the cancer related fatigue and social support in breast cancer patients after chemotherapy.@*METHODS@#According to the uniform inclusive and exclusive criteria, 396 breast cancer patients after chemotherapy were sampled randomly from 4 hospitals in Changsha and investigated on the spot by cancer fatigue scale and social support scale.@*RESULTS@#The levels of social support, subjective support, Objective support, and utilization of support of the breast cancer patients after chemotherapy were 36.63±7.80, 21.05±4.67, 8.45±3.06, and 7.13±2.10, respectively, which were lower than the normal level, with significant difference(P<0.001). There was a negative correlation between each fatigue dimension and social support, subjective support, Objective support, and utilization of support (P<0.05 or P<0.001).@*CONCLUSION@#The social support system in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy is poor. There is a negative correlation between the social support system and cancer related fatigue.