The college of Nursing at Baghdad University discussed the master’s thesis entitled “The Mediating Role of Social Support in Resilience and Quality of Life among Gastrointestinal Cancers Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy” by student Diaa Hattab Jassim, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Widad Kamel Mohammed at the Faculty’s Skills Hall.
The study aimed to investigate the mediating role that social support plays in the relationship between psychological resilience and quality of life among gastrointestinal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
The results of the study showed an overall low level of psychological resilience among the patients, reflecting a relatively weak ability to cope with difficult health conditions. In contrast, more than half of the participants had a high level of perceived social support, and the study suggested that this social support could play a partial mediating role in improving patients’ quality of life despite their low level of psychological resilience.
The study recommended the need to develop structured programs to enhance psychological resilience and develop stress management and coping skills, and integrate them into the routine care plans of GI cancer patients, while strengthening social support networks by activating family and community involvement, counseling services and specialized educational programs. The student received an “A” grade.
These recommendations are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 3 on ensuring a healthy life and promoting well-being for all, as mental health and social support for patients is as important as physical treatment, and is an essential pillar for building comprehensive and sustainable healthcare systems that improve the quality of life for individuals and enable them to actively participate in their communities.
