Changes over time in self-efficacy to cope with cancer and well-being in women with breast cancer: a cross-cultural study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine whether self-efficacy to cope with cancer changes over time in patients with breast cancer and whether these potential changes are similar across patients. It also aimed to examine whether these trajectories are related to patient psychological well-being and overall quality of life.MethodsParticipants (N = 404) from four countries (i.e. Finland, Israel, Italy, and Portugal) were enrolled in the study few weeks after breast surgery or biopsy. Self-efficacy to cope with cancer was assessed at baseline, six and 12 months later. Well-being indices were assessed at baseline, 12 and 18 months later.ResultsUsing Latent Class Growth Analysis, two groups of patients were identified. The majority of patients reported high levels of self-efficacy to cope, which increased over time. For almost 15% of the patients, however, self-efficacy declined over time. Diminishing levels of self-efficacy to cope predicted worse levels of well-being. The pattern of self-efficacy changes and their relationships to well-being was consistent across countries.ConclusionMonitoring self-efficacy to cope with cancer is probably important in order to detect alarming changes in its levels, as a declining self-efficacy to cope may serve as a signal of the need for intervention to prevent adaptation difficulties.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the changes in self-efficacy to cope with cancer over time in breast cancer patients and whether these changes were similar across patients. It also aimed to explore the relationship between these trajectories and patient psychological well-being and overall quality of life. A total of 404 participants from four countries were assessed a few weeks after breast surgery or biopsy. The majority of patients reported high levels of self-efficacy to cope, which increased over time. However, about 15% of patients experienced a decline in self-efficacy over time, which was associated with worse levels of well-being. The patterns of self-efficacy changes and their relationships with well-being were consistent across the countries.