The role of social networks in prognostic understanding of older adults with advanced cancer. (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Veronica; Yilmaz, Sule; Freitag, Jorie; Loh, Kah Poh; Kehoe, Lee; Digiovanni, Grace; Bauer, Jessica; Sanapala, Chandrika; Epstein, Ronald M.; Yousefi-Nooraie, Reza; Mohile, Supriya
• Is Part Of: Patient education and counseling. Volume 106(2023)
• Page Start: 135
• Page End: 141
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: Social networks -- Social support -- Prognostic understanding -- Advanced cancer -- Older adults -- Therapeutic alliance; Patient education -- Periodicals; Health counseling -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Counseling -- Periodicals; Patient Education -- Periodicals; Éducation des patients -- Périodiques; Counseling -- Périodiques; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; 615.5071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2022.10.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-3991

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Explore how older patients utilize their social networks to inform prognostic understanding. Methods: In a pilot study of adults (≥65 years old) with advanced cancer, 16 patients completed surveys, social network maps, and semi-structured interviews exploring with whom they preferred to communicate about their illness. Interviews were analyzed using open-coding, and codes were categorized into emergent themes. Social network maps and themes were analyzed via mixed-methods social network analysis (MMSNA). Three case examples with diverse network characteristics and communication patterns were selected for further analysis. Results: Three overarching themes (i.e., prognostic understanding, social support, and therapeutic alliance) revealed that patients' prognostic understanding was strongly influenced by the quality of the social support patients perceived from members of their social networks. Patients demonstrated prognostic understanding when they reported close relationships and open communication with their network members. Case examples revealed some ways that patients sought information and had better sense of their prognosis when they had supportive social networks. Conclusion: Findings illustrate how understanding social networks may provide information on how older adults with cancer seek, share, and process prognostic information. Highlights: A pilot study of 16 older adults with incurable cancer. Explored how older patients use their social networks to inform their prognostic understanding. Mixed Methods Social Network Analysis is used to study the patterns of relationships between members of a social network. Patients' prognostic understanding was influenced by the quality of support patients received from their social networks.