title: Factors associated with self-care self-efficacy among gastric and colorectal cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many studies have demonstrated that self-efficacy plays a crucial role in self-care. However, findings from previous studies indicate that the relationships between self-efficacy and several variables are inconsistent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the level of self-care self-efficacy among Chinese gastric and colorectal cancer patients and to identify the demographic and disease-related, physical, psychological, and social factors associated with their self-care self-efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-eight cancer patients were recruited from hospitals in Shanghai and Shandong Province. Their self-efficacy, health status, social support, and mental health were assessed during face-to-face interview, using the Strategies Used by People to Promote Health (Chinese version), Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36, Social Support Questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall level of self-care self-efficacy was moderate (mean, 80.34). The multiple regression analyses indicated that depression, physical functioning, use of available social support, vitality, and profession were indicators of the level of self-care self-efficacy and accounted for 60.9% of the variances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants who had less depression, better physical function, more social support, and higher vitality tended to have higher levels of self-care self-efficacy. Depression levels had the largest influence on self-care self-efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate that nurses may be able to influence certain cancer patients' self-care self-efficacy by attending to depression and other variables related to physical and social functioning.
authors: College of Nursing, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Huijuan
authors: H
authors: Qian
authors: Changrong
authors: C
authors: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*