The relationship between social support and self-management efficacy in patients with primary liver cancer after surgery

Objective To evaluate the current status of social support and self-management efficacy in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC) after surgery, and analyze the effect of social support on self-management efficacy. Methods Patients with PLC underwent surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between January 2015 and April 2017 were surveyed with questionnaires. Data was collected by social support rating scale (SSRS) and strategies used by people to promote health (SUPPH). Results The average score of SSRS and SUPPH were (35.86±6.73) and (94.11±20.02) respectively. SSRS had a positive correlation with SUPPH (all P<0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the subjective support, objective support and support utilization were related to the self-management efficacy of PLC patients significantly (all P<0.05). According to the standardized regression coefficient, the effect intensity of each independent variable on self-management efficacy was ranked as follows:subjective support, objective support, and support utilization. Conclusions The social support and self-management efficacy in patients with PLC after surgery are both at a moderate level. Good social support can help to improve sense of self-management. These data also strongly suggested that health care personnel should help patients to establish an effective social support system, thereby increasing self-management efficacy.