The effectiveness of a rehabilitation programme for Chinese cancer survivors: A pilot study

Cancer survivors have experienced high stress which impairs psychological functioning and decreases quality of life (QOL). This study aims to assess the mediating effect of self-efficacy on mood disturbance and QOL, and determine the effectiveness of a 12 week rehabilitation programme to improve self-efficacy as well as improve mood disturbance and QOL in Chinese cancer survivors. A total of 47 cancer patients were randomly assigned into the experimental (n = 24) and control (n = 23) groups. The participants in the experimental group received cancer-related education, progressive muscle relaxation and emotional support. Self-reported questionnaires, including General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES), Profile of Mood States Scale-Short Form (POMS-SF) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) were collected in pre- and post-intervention. Findings from this study indicated that self-efficacy was a complete mediator between mood disturbance and QOL, and the 12 week rehabilitation programme had a positive effect on self-efficacy, mood disturbance and QOL for Chinese cancer survivors.