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. 2015 Mar;9(1):11-9.
doi: 10.1007/s11764-014-0384-0. Epub 2014 Jul 16.

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

C Foster  1 , M Breckons, P Cotterell, D Barbosa, L Calman, J Corner, D Fenlon, R Foster, C Grimmett, A Richardson, P W Smith
Affiliations

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

C Foster et al. J Cancer Surviv. 2015 Mar.

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.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Recovery of health and well-being in cancer survivorship [11]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Self-efficacy to manage consequences of cancer and its treatment. Measured by the Cancer Survivors Self-Efficacy Scale (high score denotes higher self-efficacy)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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