Self‐efficacy in managing post‐treatment care among oral and oropharyngeal cancer survivors

OBJECTIVE: Physical and psychosocial effects of oral cancer result in long‐term self‐management needs. Little attention has been paid to survivors' self‐efficacy in managing their care. Study goals were to characterise self‐care self‐efficacy and evaluate socio‐demographics, disease, attitudinal factors and psychological correlates of self‐efficacy and engagement in head and neck self‐exams. METHODS: Two hundred thirty‐two oral cancer survivors completed measures of socio‐demographics, self‐care self‐efficacy, head and neck self‐exams and attitudinal and psychological measures. Descriptive statistics characterised self‐efficacy. Hierarchical regressions evaluated predictors of self‐efficacy. RESULTS: Survivors felt moderately confident in the ability to manage self‐care (M = 4.04, SD = 0.75). Survivors with more comorbidities (β = −0.125), less preparedness (β = 0.241), greater information (β = −0.191), greater support needs (β = −0.224) and higher depression (β = −0.291) reported significantly lower self‐efficacy. Head and neck self‐exam engagement (44% past month) was relatively low. Higher preparedness (OR = 2.075) and self‐exam self‐efficacy (OR = 2.606) were associated with more engagement in self‐exams. CONCLUSION: Many survivors report low confidence in their ability to engage in important self‐care practices. Addressing unmet information and support needs, reducing depressive symptoms and providing skill training and support may boost confidence in managing self‐care and optimise regular self‐exams.