Self-efficacy and fear of cancer progression during the year following diagnosis of breast cancer

TY - JOUR

T1 - Self-efficacy and fear of cancer progression during the year following diagnosis of breast cancer

AU - Melchior, Hanne

AU - Büscher, Cathrin

AU - Thorenz, Andrea

AU - Grochocka, Anna

AU - Koch-Gromus, Uwe

AU - Watzke, Birgit

N1 - Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PY - 2013/1/1

Y1 - 2013/1/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate fear of disease progression (FoP) during the year following diagnosis of breast cancer and its association with general self-efficacy (SE).METHODS: In a prospective study, 118 breast cancer patients were recruited shortly after diagnosis disclosure (response rate: 54%) and at 1-year follow-up (follow-up rate: 90%). Participants completed self-report measures of general self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale) and fear of progression (short form of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire).RESULTS: Cross-sectional regression analysis revealed that high FoP is significantly associated with low SE, even when controlling for demographic and medical characteristics (total R² = 0.17). Having children and a relatively short time since diagnosis also significantly predicted higher FoP. Longitudinal analyses showed that FoP decreased significantly over time (p = 0.001; d = 0.25), but a significant decrease was only observed for patients with high initial FoP (p < 0.001; d = 0.74) and not for those with low initial FoP (p = 0.688; d = 0.08). SE was not a significant predictor of FoP at follow-up when controlling for initial FoP and other patient characteristics (incremental R² = 0.001; p = 0.674; total R² = 0.47). Overall, only initial FoP significantly predicted FoP at follow-up (p < 0.001; β = 0.671).CONCLUSION: Findings that low SE is associated with high FoP can help to improve the treatment of dysfunctional fears in breast cancer patients. As FoP changes only slightly over time, treatment to enhance SE and reduce FoP should be initiated soon after disease disclosure.

AB - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate fear of disease progression (FoP) during the year following diagnosis of breast cancer and its association with general self-efficacy (SE).METHODS: In a prospective study, 118 breast cancer patients were recruited shortly after diagnosis disclosure (response rate: 54%) and at 1-year follow-up (follow-up rate: 90%). Participants completed self-report measures of general self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale) and fear of progression (short form of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire).RESULTS: Cross-sectional regression analysis revealed that high FoP is significantly associated with low SE, even when controlling for demographic and medical characteristics (total R² = 0.17). Having children and a relatively short time since diagnosis also significantly predicted higher FoP. Longitudinal analyses showed that FoP decreased significantly over time (p = 0.001; d = 0.25), but a significant decrease was only observed for patients with high initial FoP (p < 0.001; d = 0.74) and not for those with low initial FoP (p = 0.688; d = 0.08). SE was not a significant predictor of FoP at follow-up when controlling for initial FoP and other patient characteristics (incremental R² = 0.001; p = 0.674; total R² = 0.47). Overall, only initial FoP significantly predicted FoP at follow-up (p < 0.001; β = 0.671).CONCLUSION: Findings that low SE is associated with high FoP can help to improve the treatment of dysfunctional fears in breast cancer patients. As FoP changes only slightly over time, treatment to enhance SE and reduce FoP should be initiated soon after disease disclosure.

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Anxiety

KW - Breast Neoplasms

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Depression

KW - Disease Progression

KW - Fear

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Neoplasm Recurrence, Local

KW - Predictive Value of Tests

KW - Prospective Studies

KW - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Regression Analysis

KW - Self Efficacy

KW - Social Support

KW - Socioeconomic Factors

KW - Time Factors

U2 - 10.1002/pon.2054

DO - 10.1002/pon.2054

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 21898655

VL - 22

SP - 39

EP - 45

JO - PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY

JF - PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY

SN - 1057-9249

IS - 1

ER -