A pilot study assessing social support among cancer patients enrolled on clinical trials: a comparison of younger versus older adults

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline characteristics by age group

	Age <50 (N = 20)	Age ≥65 (N = 32)	Total (N = 52)	P value
Age
Mean (SD)	42.3 (6.08)	71.2 (3.45)	60.1 (14.93)	NA
Median	44.0	71.0	69.0
Range	29 to 49	65 to 80	29 to 80
Age group
26 to 30	1 (5%)	–	1 (2%)
31 to 35	3 (15%)	–	3 (6%)
36 to 40	3 (15%)	–	3 (6%)
41 to 45	6 (30%)	–	6 (12%)
46 to 50	7 (35%)	–	7 (13%)
65 to 70	–	16 (50%)	16 (31%)
71 to 75	–	12 (38%)	12 (23%)
76 to 80	–	4 (12%)	4 (8%)
Site				0.13
GI	7 (35%)	13 (41%)	20 (38%)
GU	6 (30%)	4 (13%)	10 (19%)
Lung	1 (5%)	8 (25%)	9 (17%)
Breast	0 (0%)	2 (6%)	2 (4%)
Other	6 (30%)	5 (16%)	11 (21%)
Stage				0.77
Missing	5	1	6
Early (stage I, II)	1 (5%)	2 (7%)	3 (7%)
Late (stage III, IV)	18 (95%)	25 (93%)	43 (93%)
Gender				0.76
Female	9 (45%)	13 (41%)	22 (42%)
Male	11 (55%)	19 (59%)	30 (58%)
Baseline QOL				0.36
Mean (SD)	74.4 (16.5)	77.0 (20.2)	76.0 (18.8)

Table 2 Lubben Social Network Scale levels by age group

	Age <50 (N = 20)	Age ≥65 (N = 32)	Total (N = 52)	P value
Lubben Social Network Score (0–100)				0.49
Mean	76.4	80.0	78.7
SD	12.45	11.40	11.77
How many relatives do you see or hear from at least once a month? (NOTE: Include in-laws with relatives)				0.20
0	0%	4%	3%
1	0%	0%	0%
2	13%	0%	5%
3–4	13%	12%	13%
5–8	27%	16%	20%
9 or more	47%	68%	60%
Tell me about the relative with whom you have the most contact. How often do you see or hear from that person?				0.67
Less than monthly	0%	4%	2%
Monthly	0%	0%	0%
A few times a month	7%	0%	2%
Weekly	13%	12%	12%
A few times a week	40%	38%	39%
Daily	40%	46%	44%
How many relatives do you feel close to? That is, how many of them do you feel at ease with, can talk to about private matters, or can call on for help?				0.02
0	0%	0%	0%
1	0%	0%	0%
2	13%	0%	5%
3–4	33%	15%	22%
5–8	33%	35%	34%
9 or more	20%	50%	39%
Do you have any close friends? That is, do you have friends with whom you feel at ease, can talk to about private matters, or can call on for help? If so, how many?				0.09
0	0%	4%	2%
1	0%	4%	2%
2	6%	8%	20%
3–4	33%	38%	37%
5–8	20%	19%	20%
9 or more	7%	27%	20%
How many of these friends do you see or hear from at least once a month?				0.02
0	7%	0%	2%
1	7%	4%	5%
2	33%	12%	20%
3–4	33%	31%	32%
5–8	13%	31%	24%
9 or more	7%	23%	17%
Tell me about the friend with whom you have the most contact. How often do you see or hear from that person?				0.25
Less than monthly	0%	0%	0%
Monthly	14%	4%	8%
A few times a month	7%	8%	8%
Weekly	14%	54%	40%
A few times a week	36%	23%	28%
Daily	29%	12%	18%
When you have an important decision to make, do you have someone you can talk to about it?				0.25
Never	0%	0%
Seldom	0%	0%
Sometimes	0%	0%
Often	20%	12%
Very often	7%	0%
Always	73%	88%
When other people you know have an important decision to make, do they talk to you about it?				0.59
Never	0%	4%	3%
Seldom	0%	0%	0%
Sometimes	20%	24%	23%
Often	27%	36%	33%
Very often	47%	16%	28%
Always	7%	20%	15%
Does anybody rely on you to do something for them each day? For example: shopping, cooking dinner, doing repairs, cleaning house, providing child care, etc?				0.04
No	31%	65%	54%
Yes	69%	35%	46%
Do you help anybody with things like shopping, filling out forms, doing repairs, providing child care, etc?				0.63
Never	0%	10%	8%
Seldom	17%	25%	23%
Sometimes	67%	40%	46%
Often	0%	20%	15%
Very often	0%	0%	0%
Always	17%	5%	8%
Do you live alone or with other people?				0.87
Live alone	13%	15%	15%
Live with other unrelated individuals (eg, paid help)	0%	0%	0%
Live with other relatives or friends	13%	8%	10%
Live with spouse	73%	77%	76%

Figure 1 Age by total Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS) score. Spearman correlation = −0.05 (P = 0.78).

Figure 2 Mean baseline symptoms by age group.

*Indicates significant differences at P <0.05.

Figure 3 Overall survival by having someone to discuss issues.