Managerial Self-Efficacy for Chemotherapy-Related Symptoms and Related Risk Factors in Women with Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most important diseases affecting physical, psychological and social health of women. This study aimed to determine managerial self-efficacy regarding chemotherapy-related symptoms and related risk factors in Iranian patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 patients with breast cancer referred to medical centers of Urmia in 2016 with a convenience sampling method. The data collection instrument was the symptom-management self-efficacy scale-breast cancer (SMSES-BC) questionnaire whose validity and reliability was evaluated for the first time for Iranians. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20. RESULTS: Most of the patients were in the age range of 41-49 years. Lowest scores were in the areas of emotional and interpersonal disorders and the highest scores in the area of managing chemotherapy-related symptoms. The mean score of self-efficacy chemotherapy-related symptoms was 168.0±25.4. There were significant relationships between age, education, economic status, marital status and life status and self-efficacy chemotherapy-related symptoms. In addition, a positive significant correlation for each of the subscales. CONCLUSION: It should be noted that interventional efforts for improving managerial self-efficacy of symptoms, especially management of interpersonal and emotional disorders in these patients are necessary.