The cancer patient: an approach to social representation

The objective of this research is to analyze the social representation of cancer and cancer patients in Spanish society. In order to do this we interviewed 200 subjects chosen by random opinion-based. The method used was structured interviews containing free associations of words to terms stimulus and semi-closed questions. Responses were analyzed with descriptive analysis and content analysis. The results indicate that there is a social representation of cancer and cancer patients. The peripheral core of these social representations suffers variations depending if the subject belongs to different social groups or categories. These results are important for Health because such knowledge allows professionals to analyze their communication with the patient and perform a different treatment in relation to cancer patient, not by his social belonging to a particular group of patients, but by their personal characteristics, thus increasing the effectiveness of professional action.

social representations; oncology; personal health; cancer