Evaluation of social support among surgical cardiac patients: support for nursing care planning

Social support of adults and elderly with chronic kidney disease on dialysis

OBJECTIVE

to evaluate the instrumental and emotional social support of patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis.

METHOD

descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample was sized for convenience and included 103 participants under treatment in a Renal Replacement Therapy Unit. Data were collected through individual interviews, using the Social Support Scale.

RESULTS

the mean scores of the emotional and instrumental social support were 3.92 (± 0.78) and 3.81 (± 0.69) respectively, an indication of good support received. The most frequent sources of instrumental and emotional social support mentioned by participants were partners, spouse, companion or boyfriend and friends.

CONCLUSION

patients with chronic kidney disease have high social support, both instrumental and emotional, and the main support comes from the family.

Avaliação de apoio social em estudos brasileiros: aspectos conceituais e instrumentos

Este estudo investigou como o apoio social tem sido avaliado em estudos brasileiros. Foi realizado um levantamento das publicações científicas de 1987 a 2007, nos indexadores Indexpsi, Pepsic, SciELO e Lilacs, usando as palavras-chave apoio social, suporte social, rede social. Foram encontrados 59 estudos que contemplavam a avaliação de apoio social em amostras brasileiras. Os resultados apontaram um crescimento nos últimos anos no número de estudos brasileiros que incluem a avaliação do apoio social, com a predominância do uso de técnicas de entrevistas para investigar, em especial, o apoio recebido e o apoio percebido. Contudo, o construto foi utilizado, algumas vezes, sem uma fundamentação teórica sólida e associado a vários outros conceitos sem uma articulação clara. Fica também evidente a escassez de instrumentos fidedignos, válidos e padronizados para a realidade brasileira, apesar dos diversos instrumentos já utilizados e que são revisados no presente estudo.

Social support and cervical and breast cancer screening practices among nurses

This cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out at three public hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. It aimed at analyzing the association between social support and cervical and breast cancer early detection practices among nurses. Data were collected through a multidimensional questionnaire focusing on socio-demographic and occupational variables, the performance of the breast self-exam, the Papanicolaou smear test, and social support (Medical Outcomes Study scale). Statistical associations were evaluated through the Chi-square test (p d" 0.05). Logistic regression tests were used for multivariate analysis. Higher levels of social support consistently increased the chances of individuals reporting adequate practices concerning breast self-examination and having Pap smear tests performed, regardless of socio-demographic or occupational variables. These results corroborate the hypotheses that social support has a positive effect on the regular practice of self-care.

[Gender-specific evaluation of coronary disease patients' self-esteem and social support]

The purpose of this descriptive study was to evaluate the social support and self-esteem of coronary disease patients hospitalized for the clinical treatment of this disease. The sample consisted of 80 patients, 49 men, 52 married, and with an average age of 52 years. Interviews took place from August 2005 to July 2006. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, and the measured social support and self-esteem were compared by the descriptive statistics, and the social support and self-esteem measures were compared using the Mann-Whitney test, according to patient gender. Internal consistency was verified, achieving values that indicate good internal consistency for both scales. The results showed high social support and self-esteem values in the studied group. No statistically significant differences were found between these values, according to patient gender. These variables have been pointed out as aspects that favor the rehabilitation process of heart disease patients after hospital discharge.

Social support and social network in family nursing: reviewing concepts

Social support and social network concepts are resources applicable to Family Nursing, as they are aimed at improving families' quality of life, and also at promoting, strengthening and maintaining their well-being. This study aimed to reflect on the main social network and social support concepts, relating them with Family Nursing, with a view to their application in nursing research and practice. We conclude that there is a lack of consensus about these concepts and that further criteria are needed for their use. In using Family Nursing, researchers must select the most relevant social network and social support concepts in literature to achieve the proposed objectives.