The significance of social support and social networks among newly diagnosed lung cancer patients in Sweden.

The purposes of this study were to identify and describe the impact that social support and a social network has for adult people recently diagnosed with lung cancer in Sweden. Ten lung cancer patients participated. The data were collected using qualitative interviews based on an interview guide and were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. This led to a core category, "receiving confirmation as a person", which was grounded via four categories: "good relationships within a social network", "conversation enables support", "confidence in the situation", and "to manage by oneself". These categories were all related to each other. How these categories might have a positive influence on a person and give them the strength to move on were also clarified. The social network identified comprised of a few people who were close to the patient. The knowledge gained from this study can be used when developing care guidelines at different levels for use by health-care professionals.