Social network and support perceived by Swiss cancer patients

Forty-two Swiss-German cancer patients rated their social network and support system on the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire. Sixty-nine percent were married. 61.9% were female, and the mean age was 58 years. The sampled listed an average of 9.3 people in their social support network. The subjects reported knowing the great majority of those network members listed for more than 5 years. While having a relatively small network, the duration of the relationships suggests network stability. The family and spouses were perceived as providing a mean of 70% of the total functional support. The results obtained from the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire are compared and interpreted using data from patient interviews. Comparisons of some of the findings from this study with those from studies of two other cultural groups (Taiwanese and Egyptian) and from a normative sample of employed adults (U.S.A.) are included. The Swiss-German cancer patients who had described their social networks as containing more people, and who felt more affirmed by others, tended to view their illness experience more favorably. Patients with small social networks and low perceived support need more attention and support from nurses. The importance of inclusion of significant others into nursing care can be inferred from the findings.