| Abstract [eng] |
Agnė Želvytė. Master’s Thesis: The Relationship Between Perceived Social Support, Supportive Care Needs, and Psychological Well-Being Among Patients with Oncohematological Diseases. Supervisor – doc. dr. Brigita Miežienė, Consultant – lect. Renata Giliun. Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Midwifery and Nursing, Institute of Health Sciences. Vilnius, 2026. Introduction. Patients with oncohematological diseases face physical, psychological, social, and informational challenges related to the disease and treatment. Long-term treatment, uncertainty regarding the disease course, possible relapse, and changes in daily life may affect their psychological well-being. Aim of the Study: To determine the relationship between perceived social support, supportive care needs, and psychological well-being among patients with oncohematological diseases. Objectives of the Study: 1. To assess perceived social support among patients with oncohematological diseases according to gender, education, and marital status. 2. To assess supportive care needs among patients with oncohematological diseases and determine their differences according to gender, education, and marital status. 3. To assess psychological well-being among patients with oncohematological diseases and determine its differences according to gender, education, and marital status. 4. To determine the associations between sociodemographic characteristics, perceived social support, supportive care needs, and psychological well-being. Materials and Methods. A quantitative study was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire survey. The study included 251 patients with oncohematological diseases. The MSPSS, SCNS-SF34, and WHO-5 scales were used. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test, the Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test, Student’s t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and hierarchical linear regression analysis. Results. The mean score of overall perceived social support was 5.61 (SD = 1.17), and 71.3% of patients had a high level of support. High support was most often reported from significant others (75.7%) and family (74.1%), and less often from friends (52.6%). Perceived social support did not differ by gender or education but was associated with marital status (χ² = 10.335; df = 2; p = 0.006): patients with a partner were more likely to report high support. The most pronounced supportive care needs were information / health care, psychological, and physical needs. Women had higher psychological needs than men (t = 2.067; df = 249; p = 0.040), and patients without a partner had higher physical needs than patients with a partner (t = –2.162; df = 249; p = 0.032). The mean psychological well-being score was 45.80 (SD = 19.89). It did not differ by gender or education; however, patients with a partner had better psychological well-being than those without a partner (t = 3.753; df = 249; p < 0.001). The final regression model explained 38.9% of the variance in psychological well-being; significant predictors were marital status, physical needs, and psychological needs. Conclusions. Patients with oncohematological diseases have a sufficiently high level of perceived social support, whereas their psychological well-being is not high. Having a partner is associated with higher perceived social support and better psychological well-being, while greater physical and psychological supportive care needs are associated with lower psychological well-being. The study hypothesis is partially confirmed. |
