Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Previous research indicates that social support is beneficial to cancer patients in adjusting to the stress of the disease. Drawing on a qualitative content analysis of 36 semi-structured interviews, this article explores sources and types of social support in Arab-Palestinian women with breast canc...

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Main Authors: Mona I A Almuhtaseb, Francesca Alby, Cristina Zucchermaglio, Marilena Fatigante
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252608
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spelling doaj-e64c6df0d42f44d2b96ae8f98fd16d6a2021-07-02T04:31:16ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01166e025260810.1371/journal.pone.0252608Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory.Mona I A AlmuhtasebFrancesca AlbyCristina ZucchermaglioMarilena FatigantePrevious research indicates that social support is beneficial to cancer patients in adjusting to the stress of the disease. Drawing on a qualitative content analysis of 36 semi-structured interviews, this article explores sources and types of social support in Arab-Palestinian women with breast cancer. Results show that members of the immediate family, husbands in particular, are reported to be the most supportive social sources. Given the limitations that characterize access to cancer care in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) and the collectivistic values of the society, women with breast cancer seem to rely mainly on their husbands to handle emotional, functional and informational needs. Emotional support includes the provision of care, trust, reassurance, and companionship. Functional support includes the practical assistance that the cancer patients receive in terms of financial support, attendance during treatment or help with domestic chores and childcare. Accessing appropriate informational support can be quite challenging in the OPT since available information is not always reliable. The family plays a key role in mediating communication with doctors. Contact with breast cancer patients and survivors is also a source of supporting information, with however a possible negative impact in terms of emotional coping. In this context, the immediate family becomes a fundamental resource for coping and a relational space that mediates connections with others, including doctors, acting as a "proxy" between the patient and the social environment. Findings are discussed in light of the historical and sociocultural context of the OPT.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252608
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Mona I A Almuhtaseb
Francesca Alby
Cristina Zucchermaglio
Marilena Fatigante
spellingShingle Mona I A Almuhtaseb
Francesca Alby
Cristina Zucchermaglio
Marilena Fatigante
Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory.
PLoS ONE
author_facet Mona I A Almuhtaseb
Francesca Alby
Cristina Zucchermaglio
Marilena Fatigante
author_sort Mona I A Almuhtaseb
title Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory.
title_short Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory.
title_full Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory.
title_fullStr Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory.
title_full_unstemmed Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory.
title_sort social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied palestinian territory.
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
series PLoS ONE
issn 1932-6203
publishDate 2021-01-01
description Previous research indicates that social support is beneficial to cancer patients in adjusting to the stress of the disease. Drawing on a qualitative content analysis of 36 semi-structured interviews, this article explores sources and types of social support in Arab-Palestinian women with breast cancer. Results show that members of the immediate family, husbands in particular, are reported to be the most supportive social sources. Given the limitations that characterize access to cancer care in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) and the collectivistic values of the society, women with breast cancer seem to rely mainly on their husbands to handle emotional, functional and informational needs. Emotional support includes the provision of care, trust, reassurance, and companionship. Functional support includes the practical assistance that the cancer patients receive in terms of financial support, attendance during treatment or help with domestic chores and childcare. Accessing appropriate informational support can be quite challenging in the OPT since available information is not always reliable. The family plays a key role in mediating communication with doctors. Contact with breast cancer patients and survivors is also a source of supporting information, with however a possible negative impact in terms of emotional coping. In this context, the immediate family becomes a fundamental resource for coping and a relational space that mediates connections with others, including doctors, acting as a "proxy" between the patient and the social environment. Findings are discussed in light of the historical and sociocultural context of the OPT.
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252608
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