title: Uncertainty, Self-efficacy, and Self-care Behavior in Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment for breast cancer causes uncertainty in the face of new and distressing experiences and often results in the need for self-care. Identifying how uncertainty influences self-care behavior is essential to design interventions that enhance self-care capacity and improve patient outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to describe the levels of uncertainty, self-efficacy, and self-care behavior in Chinese women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer and to determine if self-efficacy mediates the relationship between uncertainty and self-care behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used. Ninety-seven participants completed the Generalized Self-efficacy Scale, the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale, and the Appraisal of Self-care Agency Scale-Revised. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the levels of uncertainty, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors in the sample. Multiple regression was used to test the mediating effect of self-efficacy in the relationship between uncertainty and self-care behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ratings of uncertainty (76.70), self-efficacy (27.15), and self-care behavior (53.96) all fell in the moderate range. Both uncertainty and self-efficacy independently predicted self-care behavior, explaining 18.2% of the variance, but self-efficacy did not mediate the relationship between uncertainty and self-care behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research is needed to further evaluate the proposed relationships using instruments specific to/related to cancer and evaluate change over time. Self-care interventions that have been efficacious in Western populations could be revised to assist Chinese women to reduce uncertainty and enhance self-efficacy in coping with breast cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-care intervention programs should include strategies to reduce uncertainty and enhance self-efficacy in coping with breast cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China (Ms Zhang and Dr Petrini); and School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison (Ms Zhang and Dr Kwekkeboom).
authors.forename: Yingzi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kwekkeboom
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrini
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D035501:Uncertainty
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents