title: Self-efficacy and fear of cancer progression during the year following diagnosis of breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate fear of disease progression (FoP) during the year following diagnosis of breast cancer and its association with general self-efficacy (SE).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, 118 breast cancer patients were recruited shortly after diagnosis disclosure (response rate: 54%) and at 1-year follow-up (follow-up rate: 90%). Participants completed self-report measures of general self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale) and fear of progression (short form of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cross-sectional regression analysis revealed that high FoP is significantly associated with low SE, even when controlling for demographic and medical characteristics (total R² = 0.17). Having children and a relatively short time since diagnosis also significantly predicted higher FoP. Longitudinal analyses showed that FoP decreased significantly over time (p = 0.001; d = 0.25), but a significant decrease was only observed for patients with high initial FoP (p < 0.001; d = 0.74) and not for those with low initial FoP (p = 0.688; d = 0.08). SE was not a significant predictor of FoP at follow-up when controlling for initial FoP and other patient characteristics (incremental R² = 0.001; p = 0.674; total R² = 0.47). Overall, only initial FoP significantly predicted FoP at follow-up (p < 0.001; β = 0.671).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings that low SE is associated with high FoP can help to improve the treatment of dysfunctional fears in breast cancer patients. As FoP changes only slightly over time, treatment to enhance SE and reduce FoP should be initiated soon after disease disclosure.
authors: Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr., Hamburg, Germany. h.melchior@uke.de
authors: Hanne
authors: H
authors: Melchior
authors: Cathrin
authors: C
authors: Büscher
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Thorenz
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Grochocka
authors: Uwe
authors: U
authors: Koch
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Watzke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors