Social support and quality of life of prostate cancer patients after radiotherapy treatment.

Research suggests that social support can have an impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Social support can be structural support (SSS) or functional support (FSS). Our study was designed to clarify the relationships between HRQOL, FSS and SSS. We conducted a cross-sectional survey and a detailed chart review. The study population was men attending a follow-up clinic after receiving radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Functional social support was measured by using the MOS Social Support Survey. Structural social support was measured by using questions adapted from the 1994-1995 National Population Health Survey conducted by Statistics Canada. Health-related quality of life was measured by using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer's QLQ-C30. We found a statistically significant positive correlation between FSS and HRQOL but no association between overall SSS and HRQOL. Worsening urinary symptoms were significantly associated with lower levels of FSS and with lower HRQOL. This study underscores that the perception of support (functional) is more important than the amount or size of support (structural). We also identified a subgroup of men who have lower FSS and lower HRQOL that suffer from urinary side effects of their treatment. Further research to clarify the relationship between FSS and urinary symptoms will also clarify how an intervention could improve the HRQOL of these men.