Korean J Hosp Palliat Care.  2016 Jun;19(2):170-179. 10.14475/kjhpc.2016.19.2.170.

Self-Efficacy, Self-Care Behavior, Posttraumatic Growth, and Quality of Life in Patients with Cancer according to Disease Characteristics

• Choi J
• Lee S
• An B

• KMID: 2165147
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14475/kjhpc.2016.19.2.170

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study examined self-efficacy, self-care behavior, posttraumatic growth, and quality of life in cancer patients and their levels by disease characteristics groups to identify patient groups that require psychosocial intervention.
METHODS
We surveyed 107 patients using a structured questionnaire about the four factors and analyzed the factors by stratifying the patients by the period after the cancer diagnosis, by stage and by current treatment status.
RESULTS
The mean score for self-efficacy was 37.78, and that for self-care behavior 49.96. Patients who were diagnosed less than one year ago scored higher on medication, a sub-category of self-care behavior, than the post-diagnosis period of 1~2 year group. The score was higher in the currently-treated group than the follow-up and distant metastasis groups. For posttraumatic growth, the mean was 56.17, and the factor was higher in the 1~2 year post-diagnosis group after than the less than one year group. The score was higher in the follow-up group than the currently-treated group. With regard to quality of life, the mean score was 25.79, and no significant correlation was found with disease characteristics.
CONCLUSION
A shorter post-diagnosis period increased self-care behavior, and the greatest posttraumatic growth was reported by the 1~2 year post-diagnosis group. It may be necessary to provide cancer patients with an education program and other strategies less than one year after the diagnosis to improve self-efficacy and self-care behavior. To promote post-traumatic growth, it may be helpful to provide patients with psychosocial intervention within two years after the diagnosis.

Keyword

Self-efficacy; Self-care; Psychological stress; Quality of life; Neoplasms

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Education
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Neoplasm Metastasis
Quality of Life*
Self Care*
Stress, Psychological