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

• Autor(a) principal: Foster, C.
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Breckons, M., Cotterell, P., Barbosa, Denize Araújo, Calman, L., Corner, J., Fenlon, D., Foster, R., Grimmett, C., Richardson, A., Smith, P. W.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UFRN
• Texto Completo: https://repositorio.ufrn.br/jspui/handle/123456789/28772
• topic: Self-management; Cancer survivors; Self-efficacy; Confidence; Neoplasms

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 %). Selfefficacy scores varied between individuals and according to the illness-related task to be managed. Respondents were least confident in managingfatigue and most confident inaccessing 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.