Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2025, 16(2):2147-2157 | DOI: 10.15452/cejnm.2025.16.0009

Social support for cancer patients in Croatia: a cross-sectional study

Vesna Jakobović1, Andrea Milostić Srb2, Ivona Barać1,3, Marko Babić1,3, Nikolina Farčić1,2, Stana Pačarić1,2
1 University Hospital Centre Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
2 Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
3 Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

Aim: To examine the level of social support of cancer patients and those undergoing surgery, and to investigate whether there are differences in social support of cancer patients according to the type of cancer.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: The study included 81 participants with colon, breast and lung cancer, of whom 49 (60%) were women and 32 (40%) were men, divided into three groups according to the type of cancer, one month after surgery and oncological treatment. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and data from medical records were used.

Results: Lung cancer patients rated their health as moderate or poor, whereas those with breast cancer reported their health as very good or good (χ2 test, p = 0.003). Participants with colon cancer rated social support from family (Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.02) and social support from friends (Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.005) significantly better than patients with lung or breast cancer.

Conclusion: Overall social support was rated significantly better by colon cancer patients compared to those with lung or breast cancer. Social support plays an important role in the treatment of cancer patients, and the study findings could help to develop personalized interventions and support programs for these individuals.

Keywords: breast cancer, cancer patients, colon cancer, lung cancer, social support

Received: December 19, 2024; Revised: April 2, 2025; Accepted: April 2, 2025; Prepublished online: May 14, 2025; Published: June 5, 2025  Show citation

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Jakobović V, Milostić Srb A, Barać I, Babić M, Farčić N, Pačarić S. Social support for cancer patients in Croatia: a cross-sectional study. Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery. 2025;16(2):2147-2157. doi: 10.15452/cejnm.2025.16.0009.
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