Self‐management and illness perception among cervical cancer patients: A cross‐sectional study.

Aim: This study aimed to describe self‐management among cervical cancer patients and to elucidate the relationship between illness perception and self‐management in patients with cervical cancer. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study. A convenience sample of 220 cervical cancer patients was recruited from the gynaecology outpatient department of a cancer hospital. Data were collected from September 2018 to February 2019. Self‐management and illness perception were assessed using the Cancer Self‐Management Assessment Scale and the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire for cervical cancer, respectively. Data were analysed using Pearson correlation analysis, univariate analysis and hierarchical linear regression analysis. Results: The mean score of self‐management was 3.87 ± 0.53, and daily life management showed the highest score (4.18 ± 0.58), while symptom management was the lowest (3.11 ± 082). Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that family monthly income per person, types of surgery and personal control were factors that significantly influenced self‐management. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that self‐management among patients with cervical cancer needs to be improved. The significant influence of illness perception offers an opportunity for nurses to improve self‐management behaviours of patients with cervical cancer. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Self‐management plays an important role in cervical cancer survivors' well‐being.Little study has investigated whether illness perception is associated with self‐management in patients with cervical cancer. What this paper adds? Self‐management scores among patients with cervical cancer were unsatisfactory.Personal control was a significant predictor of cervical cancer patients' total self‐management.Family monthly income per person and types of surgery were also predictive of cervical cancer patients' total self‐management. The implications of this paper: Nurses and other clinical practitioners should consider the perceptions that cervical cancer patients have about their illnesses to help them maintain positive health behaviours and manage their illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]