The Predictive Role of Perceived Social Support and Family-Centered Care in the Quality of Life of Parents of Children with Cancer

Aim: This study aimed to determine the predictive role of perceived social support and family-centered care in the quality of life of parents who had children with cancer. Material and Methods: This study used a descriptive, methodological, and cross-sectional design. The study data were collected using a Parent Information Form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Family-Centered Care Assessment Scale, and the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer. Mean scores, percentage calculations, t-test, ANOVA test, and linear regression analysis were used to analyze the study data. Results: A statistically highly significant difference was found between the age, sex, education level, employment status, income status of the parents of the child with cancer, and the age and the duration of hospitalization of the child and the mean perceived social support, family-centered care assessment, and quality of life scale scores. In model 1, perceived social support of parents explained 54.9% of the level of their quality of life. In Model 2, family-centered care assessments of parents explained 54.9% of the level of their quality of life. Conclusion: This study is valuable in that it demonstrating the effect of perceived social support and family-centered care assessments on the quality of life. Nurses should keep in mind that parents who have little perceived social support and cannot access family-centered care may have a low quality of life. Therefore, nursing care plans should also address these variables.