Perceived control, self-management efficacy, and quality of life in patients treated with radiation therapy for breast cancer: a longitudinal study

Objective This longitudinal study aims to examine the present state of perceived control, self-management efficacy, and overall quality of life (QoL) in patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy, and gain insight into the dynamic trends and factors that influence the quality of life experienced by patients during the course of radiotherapy. Methods Participants completed the Cancer Experience and Efficacy Scale (CEES), Strategies Used by People to Promote Health (SUPPH), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy- Breast (FACT-B). The data was analyzed using the software SPSS26.0. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and mixed-effects linear models were used to analyze trends in perceived control, self-management efficacy, and QoL at three-time points, as well as factors affecting QoL during radiotherapy. Results Perceived control and self-management efficacy were associated with QoL over the course of the radiotherapy. Self-management efficacy (beta = 0.30, P < 0.001), presence of chemotherapy (beta = 18.33, P = 0.024), and duration of illness (beta = 2.25, P = 0.028) had a positive effect on the change in QoL, while time (beta = - 2.95, P < 0.001), cancer experience (beta = - 0.46, P < 0.001), and type of medical insurance (beta = - 2.77, P = 0.021) had the negative effect on the change in QoL. Conclusion The QoL, perceived control, and self-efficacy of patients with breast cancer show dynamic changes during radiotherapy. The higher the self-efficacy, the better the QoL, and the worse the QoL when the sense of disease control is poor. At the same time, more attention should be paid to the QoL of breast cancer radiotherapy patients with a long course of the disease, receiving chemotherapy, and different medical payment methods.