Effect of Social Support on Health Empowerment and Perceived Well-Being in Adults Impacted By Cancer: A Program Evaluation
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: : Background: Cancer impacts the lives of millions of patients, families and caregivers annually\nleading to chronic stress, a sense of powerlessness, and decreased autonomy. Social support may improve health empowerment and lead to increased perception of well-being.\n\nPurpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of social support provided by a cancer support agency on health empowerment and perceived well-being in adults impacted by cancer.\n\nConceptual Framework: The Health Empowerment Theory maintains that perceived wellbeing is the desired outcome; mediated by health empowerment through social support, personal growth, and purposeful participation in active goal attainment.\n\nMethods: Twelve adults impacted by cancer agreed to complete online questionnaires at\nbaseline and at 12 weeks after beginning participation in social support programs provided by a cancer support agency. \nInstruments included: Patient Empowerment Scale, The Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS), and The Office of National Statistics (ONS) Subjective Well-Being Questions.\n\nResults: Four participants completed pre and post surveys. An increase was seen in\nempowerment scores (pre M = 1.78, SD = 0.35 and post M = 3.05, SD = 0.42). There was no\nincrease in perceived well-being: SWEMWBS pre (M= 3.71, SD= 0.76), post (M= 3.57, SD=\n0.65); ONS pre (M= 7.69, SD= 1.36), post (M= 6.59, SD= 1.52).\n\nImplications: The data showed an increase in health empowerment scores after utilizing social support programs, lending support to the agency’s support strategies. It is recommended that the measures be included in surveys routinely conducted by the agency to continue to assess the impact of programming on health empowerment, and perceived well-being.
Author: Suzanne O’Rourke
Language: English
Topic: Cancer survivorship and care
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2624599011