Percepción del apoyo social en pacientes pediátricos con cáncer de Una Nueva Esperanza, Puebla.

Vollständiger Abstract

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Childhood cancer has a negative impact on the lives of affected children, affecting them socially, emotionally, and in terms of their development. Social support (SS) influences a patient’s adaptation, adherence to treatment, and well-being; receiving SS from the time of diagnosis can prevent negative psychological consequences. Una Nueva Esperanza A.B.P. (UNE) is a nonprofit organization that supports low-income children with cancer by offering comprehensive treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the level of perceived SS among UNE patients. SS was assessed comprehensively using the MOS-A scale; comparisons were made by sex, stage of treatment, age group, place of origin, diagnosis, and perception of support networks from family and friends. A total of 131 patients aged 5 to 21 years were studied upon admission to the pediatric emergency department. Overall, patients rated their perceived social support at 53.00/60, close to the maximum score. Patients undergoing treatment reported a perceived social support score of 55.00/60, while school-aged patients reported a score of 54.00/60. Gender, specific diagnosis, and referral status did not affect the SS. Both patients undergoing treatment and those under observation identified an average of three friends and five family members as their support networks. The family is fundamental to the perception of SS, serving as the primary support network for patients. Scores close to the maximum level suggest that UNE patients have a positive perception of SS.