Social participation of oncology patients over 60 years of age

Introduction. Social participation is a critically important aspect of life in older adults. Also, it is one of the major subjects of research in the field of aging. Old age and its implications can have both positive and negative effects on social participation in the elderly population. Older oncology patients also face additional challenges in achieving active aging and full social participation. The goal of this study was to establish the prevalence and variety of social participation of oncology patients over the age of 60, as well as to determine any possible correlation between specific demographic characteristics and social participation. Material and Methods. The study included 100 persons aged 60 to 92 treated for malignant diseases. The Maastricht social participation profile and a demographic questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study were used as research instruments. Data analysis included the t-test for independent samples, correlation analysis, linear regression analysis, and one way analysis of variance. Results. Persons over the age of sixty have a low level of social participation, particularly in the domains of contacts with friends and family. A statistically significant difference was found in social participation in regard to different demographic characteristics: type of residence (t = 6.765, p < .01) and disability (t = 5.663, p < .01), and age (R = 0.478, p < .01). There were no statistically significant differences in regard to gender, education and presence/ absence of chronic disease. Conclusion. Oncology patients over the age of 60 have a very low social participation. Considering its importance for health and quality of life in the elderly, it is crucial to develop a support system for these persons and to recognize the significance of including social support in the care of this population.