Exploring the Role of Self-Efficacy for Coping With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

Background: Self-efficacy is a psychological source for helping patientsadjust with breast cancer. The aim of the present review was to synthesize thestudies on self-efficacy of women with breast cancer, to determine importantfactors affecting the perception of self-efficacy in breast cancer as well as todescribe the role of self-efficacy in the breast cancer.Methods: "Self-Efficacy (SE), Cancer-Related Self-Efficacy, Symptom-Management Self-Efficacy, Women, Breast Cancer, and Breast Neoplasms" , askeywords, were searched in PubMed, CINAHL, OVID, and Web of Science from۲۰۰۰ to ۲۰۱۶. We included only original articles published in English language,measuring self-efficacy in women with breast cancer.Results: Twenty-four articles were chosen based on the inclusion criteria. Theresults of this review revealed that demographic variables, breast cancer diagnosisand type of treatment, bio-psycho-socio-spiritual status, and physician-patientrelationship affect cancer specific SE. SE impacts on physical and mental health,pain management, quality of life, body image, clinician-patient communication,and health information seeking behavior.Conclusions: This review showed that breast cancer self-efficacy is a criticalcomponent for enhancement of goal-directed behaviors in patients and it should besupported by health care providers and family members. Findings of this reviewhas some limitations, since great amount of findings were based on cross sectionaldata. Further research is needed to examine the impacts of breast cancer selfefficacyon health-related variables.

Keywords:

Self-efficacy , symptom management , breast cancer , women