title: Social Support and Women Living With Breast Cancer in the South of Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss social support among women with breast cancer in rural communities in southern Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative research that allowed researchers to understand the lived experiences of women living with breast cancer and social support.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth interviewing and drawing methods were adopted with 20 women with breast cancer. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most women with breast cancer received three types of social support: emotional support, tangible support, and informational support. Most support came from family members and relatives. Religion was also a form of social support for women. Many women, however, received insufficient social support from healthcare providers. This reduced their capacity to manage their illness, thus impacting their well-being.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various forms of support are essential for women with breast cancer so that they can better cope with their condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses and other health professionals are an important source of social support for women with breast cancer. Through having an understanding of and being sensitive to these women's experiences, culture, and challenges, nurses and healthcare professionals can provide more individualized support and care to women during a vulnerable period of their life. We contend that the cultural perspectives of patients are crucial in nursing science. Nurses need to appreciate the importance of culture for the support of patients with breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Thaksin University, Phatthalung, Thailand.
authors.forename: Dusanee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suwankhong
authors.affiliation: Professor, School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Pranee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liamputtong
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012067:Religion; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D013785:Thailand
keywords: Breast cancer; Thai women; qualitative research; social support; well-being