title: Cancer survivors' self-efficacy to self-manage in the year following primary treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer survivors are increasingly expected to manage the consequences of cancer and its treatment for themselves. There is evidence that self-efficacy is important for successful self-management and that this can be enhanced with support. The purpose of this study was to assess self-efficacy to manage problems in the year following primary treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional online survey included cancer survivors who had completed their treatment within the past 12 months. Self-efficacy was assessed and variables expected to be associated with self-efficacy were measured using validated scales including quality of life, well-being, illness perceptions, depression and social support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred eighty-two respondents (mean age 50; 81% female) completed the survey. They had been treated for a range of cancers; most commonly breast (45%). Self-efficacy scores varied between individuals and according to the illness-related task to be managed. Respondents were least confident in managing fatigue and most confident in accessing information about their cancer. Individuals most likely to report low self-efficacy were women, those experiencing higher levels of pain and/or depression, lower well-being scores, lower socio-economic status, low levels of social support, or a more negative perception of cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-efficacy to self-manage problems faced as a consequence of cancer and its treatment can vary widely in the year following treatment. Fatigue may be particularly difficult to manage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variations in self-efficacy highlight the importance of assessing specific problems faced and people's confidence to manage them in order to tailor appropriate self-management support.
authors.affiliation: Macmillan Survivorship Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK, C.L.Foster@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breckons
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cotterell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fenlon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grimmett
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D017741:Survivors