The structural equation model on self-efficacy during post-op rehabilitation among non-small cell lung cancer patients

Backgrounds Self-efficacy plays an important role in pulmonary rehabilitation, but it is still unknown which factors exert their effects on postsurgical rehabilitation self-efficacy among non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. This study aims to assess relationships among physical function, social factors, psychological factors, quality of life (QOL) and self-efficacy, and the effects of these variables on self-efficacy among NSCLC patients. Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered to 238 postsurgical NSCLC patients (response rate 95.2%) at five tertiary hospitals in Fuzhou, China. the participants completed a pack of questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to test the hypothetical model. Results The SEM results supported the hypothesized structural model (χ2/df = 1.511, p>0.05). The final model showed that confrontation coping, subjective well-being (SWB), social support, psychological growth (PTG) and anxiety and depression can be directly related to self-efficacy (coefficient = 0.335, coefficient = 0.288, coefficient = 0.150, coefficient = 0.024, and coefficient = -0.004, respectively, p<0.01). Confrontation coping also had indirect effect via SWB (coefficient = 0.085, p<0.01), which had indirect connection via PTG (coefficient = 0.005, p<0.01). Social support and anxiety and depression had indirect pathways as well. As expected, self-efficacy directly affected the quality of life. Conclusions This study suggests that higher confrontation coping style, SWB, social support, and PTG and lower anxiety and depression levels could effectively enhance their self-efficacy and consequently, improve QOL. These findings may help develop an intervention aimed at enhancing self-efficacy for this patient population.