Baseline self-efficacy and engagement in a symptom management intervention after cancer treatment: an exploratory...

The purpose of this study was to 1) test the relationship between self-efficacy to manage symptoms and engagement in a symptom self-management intervention and 2) examine the personal, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with engagement in symptom self-management after chemotherapy.

This exploratory analysis included data from 375 adult post-chemotherapy survivors of solid tumor cancers with comorbidities or elevated depressive symptoms enrolled in a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial. Survivors were initially randomized to the Symptom Management and Survivorship Handbook intervention (SMSH) or SMSH plus Telephone Interpersonal Counseling (TIPC); SMSH nonresponders (those with depression scores that remained at, or increased to, moderate or severe) at week four were rerandomized. Engagement was measured by 1) weekly session completion and 2) reported use of SMSH strategies. Baseline measures included demographics, symptom severity, comorbidities, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy. Associations were assessed using generalized linear mixed models.

SMSH alone led to greater self-management strategy use than SMSH + TIPC. Baseline self-efficacy was associated with engagement in early weeks (1-4), whereas higher symptom severity reduced the likelihood of session completion. Age, female sex, and being married or living with a partner were associated with greater early strategy use. Among nonresponders, higher baseline depressive symptoms were associated with higher odds of strategy use during weeks 5-12.

Simpler formats like SMSH may better engage post-chemotherapy survivors with comorbidities or depressive symptoms. Factors associated with session completion and strategy use differed. Targeting self-efficacy and providing early support may help sustain engagement in symptom management and facilitate use of self-management strategies in later weeks among non-responders with higher depressive symptoms.

Reinforcing self-efficacy and providing focused support may help cancer survivors sustain symptom self-management.