Improvement in Stress, General Self-Efficacy, and Health Related Quality of Life following Patient Education for Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors : A Pilot Study

Abstract EN

The purpose of the study was to evaluate changes in general self-efficacy, health related quality of life (HRQoL), and stress among patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NET) following a multidisciplinary educational intervention.

Forty-one patients were enrolled in this exploratory pilot study.

A total of 37 patients completed the full 26-week intervention based on the principles of self-efficacy.

General self-efficacy was measured by the General Self-Efficacy Scale, HRQoL was measured with the SF-36, and stress was measured with the Impact of Event Scale.

Mixed effect models were used to evaluate changes in general self-efficacy, mental and physical components of HRQoL, and stress adjusting for demographic and clinical variables.

Results showed significant improvements in patients’ general self-efficacy (β = 0.71; P<0.05), physical component scores of HRQoL (β = 3.09; P<0.01), and stress (β=-2.10, P=0.008).

Findings suggest that patients with NET have the capacity to improve their ability to cope with their disease, problem-solve, improve their physical status, and reduce their stress following an educational intervention based on the principles of self-efficacy.

These preliminary data provide a basis for future randomized controlled trials to test interventions to improve HRQoL for patients with NET.