Self-efficacy in the managing late sequelae in long-term breast cancer survivors in Spain

This study assessed self-efficacy in managing long-term effects among breast cancer survivors living beyond five years post-diagnosis, as well as associated sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors. A cross-sectional design was conducted with 188 women recruited through intentional sampling. Recruitment was carried out through dissemination on social media, print and digital media, radio and television, as well as collaboration with regional patient associations. Sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle data were collected, and self-efficacy was measured using the self-efficacy for managing chronic disease scale (SEMCD-S). Analyses included descriptive statistics, bivariate tests, and multiple regression to identify predictors of self-efficacy. Participants had a mean age of 57.5 years and an average survival time of 10.2 years. The mean SEMCD-S score was 6.4 (range 0-10), indicating a moderate level of self-efficacy. Significant associations were found between self-efficacy and tobacco consumption (p < 0.05), as well as with the presence of comorbidities (p = 0.013). In the regression model, only comorbidity remained a significant negative predictor, accounting for 2.53% of the variance. In summary, long-term breast cancer survivors reported moderate self-efficacy in managing chronic disease effects. Comorbidities emerged as a key factor negatively influencing self-efficacy. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to enhance self-efficacy and improve quality of life in this growing survivor population.