Functional assessment of individuals diagnosed with brain tumor and the effects of perceived social support systems on their quality of life

Aksoy, E. Functional Assessment of Individuals Diagnosed With Brain Tumor and The Effects of Perceived Social Support Systems on their Quality of Life, Namık Kemal University Institute of Health Sciences Surgical Diseases Nursing Master Thesis, Tekirdağ, 2018. The study was designed with descriptive purpose to determine the functional assessment of individuals diagnosed with brain tumors and the effects of their perceived social support systems on quality of life. This descriptive research was planned with the purpose of evaluating the functions of individuals who are diagnosed brain tumour and the effects of support systems that they use for their life quality. Population of this research includes 135 patients who were diagnosed brain tumour in the university hospitals between the dates of 1st January-30th September 2015. However, 15 patients were excluded from the research because they did not match with the research criteria and also did not want to attend research. Between the dates of 1st January-30 September 2016, the research was begun with the 120 samples who match with the research criteria. With the number of 20 samples, a pilot study was conducted to evaluate the clarity of questionnaires and scales and then they were excluded from the research. And finally, the scale was composed of 100 patients. The data was collected by using patient diagnosis form, the scale of brain cancer treatments functional evaluation, social support scale which perceived as hyper-dimensional, scale of EQ-5D general life quality and having face-to-face meetings with the samples. In the process of evaluating data, SPSS 24.0 statistics package program, descriptive statistical methods such as, frequency, percentage, average, standard deviation were used. Moreover, to study the normal distribution Kolmogorov-Smirnov distribution test, to compare qualitative data Pearson x-square and Fisher Exact test, to compare quantitative data which includes parameters of two groups Mann Whitney U test, to compare qualitative data which includes parameters of two groups Kruskal Wallis test and to determine the group which lead to discrepancy Mann Whitnet U test was used. Between the constant parameters of the research Sperman correlation and regression analysis were applied. The results were evaluated at the confidence range of %95, sampling error range of ±%5 and significancy at the level of p<0,05. Individuals who attended research were female at the percentage of %54 and the age average was 50±15,93. It is found that their life quality is at the average of 0,597±0,346, and daily medical situation average 65,400±19,250. When the functional situation of the patients were evaluated, it is determined that "emotional situation sub-dimension" average is the lowest with the point of 15,540±5,235 and "additional situations sub-dimension" is the highest with the point of 45,870±15,73. When the social support systems of the patients were evaluated, it is determined that, "social support which is perceived from friend sub-dimension" is the lowest with the point of 23,490±3,948, and "social support which is perceived from family sub-dimension" is the highest with the point of 24,220±3,341. The result of this research is that there is a positive relationship between functional evaluations of patients with social supports that they have and their life quality. According to the results because medical personnels and relatives of patients have key roles regarding requested social support providing, it is suggested to take requested actions while planning the nurse-care processes, in order to increase life quality of patients thereby their functional situations. Key words: Brain Tumor, Functional Assessment, Social Support, Quality of Life