title: Life-threatening illness and the nature of social support: brief research report.
abstract: Studies support the assumption that social connection and support are essential to adequately cope with a life-threatening illness. This exploratory study surveyed a small sample of cancer patients to ask them what they needed at the time of their initial diagnosis and what reactions to their illness that they perceived in others. The ability to clearly identify needs and reactions was deemed as important as the content of their responses. This study supports the premise that when asked cancer patients can identify their own needs and are clearly aware of others' reactions to their illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614-0645, USA. kuczynsk@etsu.edu
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuczynski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support