Cancer survivors’ self-efficacy to self-manage in the year following primary treatment
Cancer survivors’ self-efficacy to self-manage in the year following primary treatment
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.
self-management, cancer survivors, self-efficacy, confidence, neoplasms
Foster, C.
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Breckons, M.
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Cotterell, P.
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Barbosa, D.
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Calman, L.
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Corner, J.
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Fenlon, D.
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Foster, R.
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Grimmett, C.
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Richardson, A.
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Smith, P.W.
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16 July 2014
Foster, C.
00786ac1-bd47-4aeb-a0e2-40e058695b73
Breckons, M.
34f3308d-b5be-4633-9a3e-229da659f7be
Cotterell, P.
34ced262-73fd-4635-ba0d-82fdf5c58fa2
Barbosa, D.
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Calman, L.
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Corner, J.
eddc9d69-aa12-4de5-8ab0-b20a6b5765fa
Fenlon, D.
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Foster, R.
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Grimmett, C.
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Richardson, A.
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Smith, P.W.
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Foster, C., Breckons, M., Cotterell, P., Barbosa, D., Calman, L., Corner, J., Fenlon, D., Foster, R., Grimmett, C., Richardson, A. and Smith, P.W.
(2014)
Cancer survivors’ self-efficacy to self-manage in the year following primary treatment.
Journal of Cancer Survivorship.
(doi:10.1007/s11764-014-0384-0).
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.
Text
Foster Online survey J Cancer Survivorship 2014.pdf
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More information
e-pub ahead of print date: 16 July 2014
Published date: 16 July 2014
Keywords:
self-management, cancer survivors, self-efficacy, confidence, neoplasms
Organisations:
Faculty of Health Sciences
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 370831
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/370831
ISSN: 1932-2259
PURE UUID: 5a0f6878-1f5c-4f5e-81d4-f7b1a08c4b14
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Date deposited: 18 Nov 2014 09:35
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:43
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Contributors
Author:
M. Breckons
Author:
P. Cotterell
Author:
D. Barbosa
Author:
J. Corner
Author:
D. Fenlon
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