The size of a social network and family support not only promotes the general health and the wellbeing of a person but also helps in early recovery of a patient from an operation.A recent study supported the need of social support for patients recovering from serious surgical treatments. The research clearly indicated that the patients who have larger social networks and better support of family members and relatives not only depict lesser intense symptoms of post operative anxiety and pain as compared to those with limited networks and lesser family support but also recover soon after the major operations.

Allison R. Mitchinson, a health researcher in the ‘Department of Veterans Affairs’, at the ‘ Ann Arbor (MI) Healthcare System’ says that the strong social links can fasten the process of recovery among the patients who are suffering of the stress caused by postoperative pain. It also helps the patient to get rid of anxiety caused by separation from the family and concerns about health and finances involved in the operation.

Daniel B. Hinshaw who is a co researcher says that the link between limited social connections and larger intake of pain medications, longer hospital stays and need of an additional caretaker after an operation causing pain and anxiety among the patients should not be overlooked. So prior to the operation, the level of pain and anxiety among such patients should be taken into serious consideration as they largely determine the speed of the postoperative recovery.

During the study, the patients prior to the operation completed a questionnaire to assess the number of their friends and relatives and the frequency of social contact they maintain with their social networks. During the operation for major thoracic or abdominal operations, the patients were administered a trail message as an additional treatment for the postoperative pain.

A comparison was carried out of the assessment done by the patients about the levels of amount of pre-operative and post-operative pain and spitefulness along with the levels of anxiety, depression, relaxation, and inner peace during the post operative phase. The visual analogue scales were used for this.

The scientists also studied the daily intake of sedatives to combat the pain after the operation, postoperative complications, and duration of stay at the hospital. The levels of anxiety and unpleasantness were found to be lesser among the patients who had larger social networks.

The study clearly makes it necessary for the clinicians to be aware of connectedness of the patients with their social networks and family members so that the post operative conditions could be better evaluated.