Cancer survivors’ self-efficacy to self-manage in the year following primary treatment

Foster, Claire; Breckons, Matthew; Cotterell, P.; Barbosa, D.; Calman, Lynn; Corner, Jessica; Fenlon, Deborah; Foster, R.; Grimmett, Chloe; Richardson, Alison; Smith, P.W.

Abstract

PURPOSE
Cancer survivors are increasingly expected to manage the consequences of cancer and its treatment for themselves. There is evidence that self-efficacy is important for successful self-management and that this can be enhanced with support. The purpose of this study was to assess self-efficacy to manage problems in the year following primary treatment.

METHODS

This cross-sectional online survey included cancer survivors who had completed their treatment within the past 12 months. Self-efficacy was assessed and variables expected to be associated with self-efficacy were measured using validated scales including quality of life, well-being, illness perceptions, depression and social support.

RESULTS
One hundred eighty-two respondents (mean age 50; 81 % female) completed the survey. They had been treated for a range of cancers; most commonly breast (45 %). Self-efficacy scores varied between individuals and according to the illness-related task to be managed. Respondents were least confident in managing fatigue and most confident in accessing information about their cancer. Individuals most likely to report low self-efficacy were women, those experiencing higher levels of pain and/or depression, lower well-being scores, lower socio-economic status, low levels of social support, or a more negative perception of cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-efficacy to self-manage problems faced as a consequence of cancer and its treatment can vary widely in the year following treatment. Fatigue may be particularly difficult to manage.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS
Variations in self-efficacy highlight the importance of assessing specific problems faced and people's confidence to manage them in order to tailor appropriate self-management support.

Citation

Foster, C., Breckons, M., Cotterell, P., Barbosa, D., Calman, L., Corner, J., …Smith, P. (2014). Cancer survivors’ self-efficacy to self-manage in the year following primary treatment. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 9(1), https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-014-0384-0

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jul 16, 2014
• Deposit Date: Nov 18, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 21, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Cancer Survivorship
• Print ISSN: 1932-2259
• Electronic ISSN: 1932-2267
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-014-0384-0
• Keywords: self-management, cancer survivors, self-efficacy, confidence, neoplasms
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/732334
• Publisher URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11764-014-0384-0