Self-Efficacy in Breast Cancer Patients: A Pre–Post Study of a Brief Digital Psychosocial Intervention

TL;DR

A digital psychosocial intervention was tested to improve social relationships and self-efficacy in breast cancer patients after surgery.

Contribution

The study explores a brief digital intervention's impact on social coping and communication in breast cancer patients.

Findings

The intervention showed a significant correlation between improved social relationship coping and better family communication.

Overall changes in the scales were minimal and not statistically significant.

Participants' age averaged 52 years, with no major differences observed post-intervention.

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer significantly impacts the social relationships and self-efficacy of affected patients. Purpose: To investigate the role of self-efficacy and the ability to maintain social relationships in breast cancer patients during the postoperative period. Method: This study is a brief intervention study in the same population group (within-subjects intervention study), in two measurements (pre-test and post-test), conducted in 58 breast cancer patients hospitalized in oncology hospitals in Athens (February 2021–November 2021). The following validated scales were used: the Social Relationship Coping Efficacy Scale (SRCE), the Family Support Scale (FS-12), and the Family Problem Solving Communication Scale (FPSC). Results: The mean age of the participants was 52 years. No statistically significant differences were observed in the scales after the intervention. The degree of change in the scales had minimal differences across all types of treatment. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between the change in the SRCE and the FPSC (p = 0.043), which suggests that the improvement in the ability to maintain social relationships is related to the strengthening of family communication. Conclusions: The intervention had a positive effect on maintaining social relationships and improving communication for problemsolving ability, although the overall changes in the scales were not statistically significant.