Evaluation of social relationships in COPD patients

Abstract

ÖzAmaç: Çalışmamızda KOAH hastalarının uzun süren ve ilerleyici bu hastalıkla yaşarken aile ve sosyal çevresi ile olan ilişkilerini değerlendirerek hastaların takibi boyunca sosyal destek ihtiyacını ortaya koymayı amaçladık. This study aimed to demonstrate COPD patients need of social support by evaluating relationship between family and social environment while follow-up. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in outpatient clinics of Family Medicine Department and Chest Diseases Department at Ankara Training and Research Hospital between MaySeptember 2015. Three hundred three individuals with COPD and 297 individuals without COPD were included in the study. Demographics and Lubben Social Network Scale were administered to participants and patients with COPD also performed pulmonary function test. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 16.0. Results: Six hundred individuals in the age range of 40-80 years including 350 males (58.33%) and 250 females (4.67%) were enrolled in the study. Participants were divided into two groups as follows: participants with COPD (303 participants, 50.50%) and controls (297 participants, 49.50%). It was detected significant differences between groups in the social network scale scores. COPD patients had lower scores of family and friends network but neighbor section scores were found similar in the groups. However, presence of comorbid chronic illnesses lowered the scores of family, neighbor and family sections, it was found that substance abuse had negative effects on the scores of family and friend sections. It was identified that when COPD severity increases, overall scores decrease. Conclusion: Social relations decrease in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease based on increased severity of the disease. It should be evaluated in COPD patients for social relation status besides medical treatment. After the diagnosis of COPD, if patients receive guidance, social support and psychosocial