Social support, affectivity, and the quality of life of patients and their support-givers prior to stem cell transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine differences and interdependencies between patients and their support-givers prior to PBSCT.


METHODS
Patients and their principal support-givers completed the Illness- Specific Social Support Scale (ISSS), the Profile of Mood States, and the EORTC QLQ-C30.


RESULTS
One hundred fifty-five of 200 eligible patients replied. They nominated spouse/partner (70.6%), friends, and children as principal support source. Patients receiving social support from spouses reported a better HRQoL than patients who nominated other persons as the principal source of social support. Patients perceived more positive (p < .01) and more problematic (p < .05) social interactions than support-givers. The support-givers nominated: children (25.8%), spouse/partner, and siblings. Analysis showed an additional effect of gender and support-giving role (female patients scored worst in overall QoL, male support- givers best).


CONCLUSIONS
Psychotherapeutic interventions should not only address the patients' problems but also the support-givers' questions, needs, and psychosocial burdens.
Frick
Eckhard
E
University of Munich, Department of Psychology and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Clinic, Nubbaumstr 7, Munich, 80336, Germany. frick@psychoonkologie.org
Rieg-Appleson
Claudia
C
Tyroller
Michael
M
Bumeder
Irmgard
I
D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires