The comparison of perceived social support and family functions of patients undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery with patients undergone cancer surgery

This research is an analytical study planned with the aim of comparing the social support and family functions that perceived by patients who have undergone Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery and cancer surgery. The research was implemented by 30 patients who hospitalized for having coronary artery bypass surgery in Abant İzzet Baysal University Medical Faculty Hospital, and 30 family member, 30 patients hospitalized for having cancer surgery, and 30 family members. In data collection, for patients ?Patient Information Form?, for family members ?Family Member Information Form?, ?Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support? and ?Family Assessment Device? are used. In the second day of hospitalizing, the perceived social support level of patients undergone cancer surgery is higher compared to those who have undergone coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). The perceived social support by friends is high, whereas the perceived social support by families is low of patients undergone cancer surgery. The families of the patients undergone CABG surgery performs the function of ?problem solving? more healthily than the families of patients undergone cancer surgery. On the day to be discharged from hospital, the levels of perceived social support of patients undergone cancer surgery are higher than those who had CABG surgery. The levels of perceived social support by the ?significant other? and ?friends? of patients undergone cancer surgery are significantly higher. It is confirmed that the families of patients undergone cancer surgery performs the ?roles? and ?behavior control? functions more healthily, and ?communication? function less healthily. The levels of perceived social support of patients undergone CABG surgery and cancer surgery are found significantly higher on the day that they are to be discharged from hospital compared to the second day of hospitalizing. No significant difference was found in the perception of functions of patient families between the second day of hospitalizing and the day to be discharged from hospital.Keywords: Perceived social support, perception of family functioning, coronary artery bypass graft, cancer surgery