Perceptions of support among older African American cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the perceived social support needs among older adult African American cancer survivors.


METHODS
Qualitative design using grounded theory techniques.


METHODS
Outpatient oncology clinics in the southeastern United States.


METHODS
Focus groups with 22 older adult African American cancer survivors.


METHODS
Purposeful sampling technique was used to identify focus group participants. In-depth interviews were conducted and participants were interviewed until informational redundancy was achieved.


METHODS
Social support needs of older adult African American patients with cancer.


RESULTS
Social support was influenced by (a) symptoms and treatment side effects, (b) perceptions of stigma and fears expressed by family and friends, (c) cultural beliefs about cancer, and (d) desires to lessen any burden or disruption to the lives of family and friends. Survivors navigated within and outside of their networks to get their social support needs met. In some instances, survivors socially withdrew from traditional sources of support for fear of being ostracized. Survivors also described feeling hurt, alone, and socially isolated when completely abandoned by friends.


CONCLUSIONS
The support from family, friends, and fellow church members is important to positive outcomes among older African American cancer survivors. However, misconceptions, fears, and negative cultural beliefs persist within the African American community and negatively influence the social support available to this population.


CONCLUSIONS
Early identification of the factors that influence social support can facilitate strategies to improve outcomes and decrease health disparities among this population.
Hamilton
Jill B
JB
School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. jhamilto@email.unc.edu
Moore
Charles E
CE
Powe
Barbara D
BD
Agarwal
Mansi
M
Martin
Pamela
P
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003469:Culture; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D012067:Religion; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*