title: Patterns of self-management practices undertaken by cancer survivors: variations in demographic factors.
abstract: The study purpose was to examine self-management (SM) use among cancer survivors; and to explore variations in uptake of SM in survivorship and whether these differed in relation to age, income, gender, ethnicity, cancer type and treatment type. This is an important area for exploration as SM utilisation has the potential to impact on the health status, health behaviours and quality of life (QoL) of cancer survivors. A postal survey was conducted among 445 cancer survivors identified from a hospital in the West Midlands, UK. Demographic data were collected and respondents were asked to identify which practices across six SM categories - diet, exercise, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), psychological therapies, support groups and spirituality/religion - they had used (if any). The findings indicate that the large majority (91%) had used some form of SM after their cancer treatment. Exercise (84%) and diet (56%) were the most popular SM interventions for cancer survivors and socio-demographic and cancer-related factors were associated with SM uptake. These findings can form the basis for designing and implementing appropriate SM interventions aimed at improving the health, well-being and QoL of cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Building, School of Health and Population Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shneerson
authors.affiliation: The Work Foundation, Centre for Workforce Effectiveness (Part of Lancaster University), London, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taskila
authors.affiliation: Medical Statistician Primary Care Clinical Sciences, School of Health and Population Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holder
authors.affiliation: Primary Care Clinical Sciences, Primary Care Clinical Sciences, School of Health and Population Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greenfield
authors.affiliation: Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Nuffield House, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tolosa
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Population Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Damery
authors.affiliation: HSMC, Park House, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D017741:Survivors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adults; cancer; complementary therapy; psychological; quality of life; supportive care