Self-management behaviors in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy: A structural equation model

Purpose

To investigate factors influencing self-management behaviors in post-radical prostate cancer patients' behaviors grounded on the Integrated Theory of Health Behaviour Change and to clarify the interactions among these factors.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, 281 patients were recruited at The First Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in China between December 2023 and April 2024. Illness perception, social support, self-regulation and self-management were assessed through Chinese versions of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey-Chinese (MOS-SSS-C), Treatment Self-regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ) and The Cancer Patient Self-management Assessment Scale. Structural equations were used to explore the relationship between the four variables.

Results

The final structural model using the Integrated Theory of Health Behaviour Change showed a suitable fit (RMSEA = 0.073, CMIN/DF = 2.482). Illness perception directly affected self-management (β = −0.416, P < 0.05) and indirectly affected self-management through self-regulation (β = 0.269, P < 0.05). Self-regulation directly affected self-management (β = 0.453, P < 0.05). Social support indirectly affected self-management (β = 0.225, P < 0.05). These variables contributed to 62.9 % of the variability in self-management behaviors among patients after radical prostate cancer treatment.

Conclusions

The present study suggested a model can be useful in better understanding self-management in post-radical prostate cancer patients. Besides, these patients experience bad self-management. Illness perception and social support can affect post-radical prostate cancer patients' self-management directly and indirectly through self-regulation.