Zhang, M., Sally Wai-chi, C., You, L., Wen, Y., Peng, L., Liu, W., & Zheng, M. (2014). The effectiveness of a self-efficacy-enhancing intervention for Chinese patients with colorectal cancer: A randomized controlled trial with 6-month follow up. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 51, 1083–1092.
To test the effects of a nurse-led, self-efficacy-enhancing intervention for patients with colorectal cancer compared to routine care over a six-month follow-up period
Verbal and written information on self-efficacy and techniques to increase self-efficacy were distributed, and 20–40 minute coaching follow-up sessions were conducted via telephone. The control group received routine care, which included information provided by the nurse on knowledge of chemotherapy and side effects before patients started treatment (about 30 minutes). The intervention was based on Bandura’s (1977, 1986) self-efficacy theory. The self-efficacy intervention was complex and included an hour-long, face-to-face education session conducted by an oncology nurse, an educational handbook that contained information on the core components of self-efficacy, a 30-minute audiotape on relaxation, and four monthly health-coaching telephone follow-up sessions (20–30 minutes each) with an oncology nurse.
Randomized, controlled trial with repeated measures and a two-group design
The intervention group experienced a significant improvement in self-efficacy (f = 7.26, p = .003), a reduction in symptom severity (f = 5.30, p = .01), symptom interference (f = 4.06, p = .025), anxiety (f = 6.04, p = .006), and depression (f = 6.96, p = .003) at three and six months compared to the control group. No statistically-significant main effect was observed in quality of life perception between the two groups.
A nurse-led, self-efficacy-enhancing intervention was effective in promoting self-efficacy and psychological well being for three and six months compared to the control group. The findings of this study suggest that the intervention is feasible, and improvements could be sustained for six months after the intervention.
Self-efficacy-enhancing interventions that are lead by nurses may improve the psychological well-being of patients with colorectal cancer.