Background

Previous research suggests that higher levels of self-efficacy in people affected by cancer can result in improved health care outcomes including self-care behaviours and decreased physical and psychological symptoms. The aim of this survey was to assess self-efficacy in relation to self-management of problems associated with primary cancer treatment in the year following treatment.

Methods

The survey was carried out online and contained several validated questionnaires including the Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale, Brief COPE and the Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors scale. 182 people were recruited over 4 months.  Eligible participants were UK residents, aged over 18 and within 12 months of completing cancer treatment. Statistical analysis was performed to examine levels of self-efficacy and its associations with self-management and other outcome measures.

Findings

147 women and 35 men completed the survey representing 20 different cancer types. Respondents reported a range of self-efficacy scores and these were associated with self-management activity and problems reported. Regression models indicated that several variables were predictive of a low self-efficacy score including: having a more threatening perception of cancer, having a low subjective sense of well-being, experiencing a high level of fatigue/low amount of energy and having limited social support.

Discussion

Findings from this survey provide important baseline data and contribute to the understanding of the role of self-efficacy in in the self-management of cancer/treatment related problems. Our analysis indicates who may be in need of support to self-manage cancer related problems.  Screening for self-efficacy across a number of areas should inform assessment to self-manage and interventions designed to increase self-efficacy in specific domains may be helpful for cancer survivors.

Acknowledgement: Funded by Macmillan Cancer Support