Introduction

Supporting cancer survivors in practicing evidence-based self-care has a central place in the rehabilitation plan to reduce side-efects of cancer treatment. However, knowledge is needed on the implementation of self-care practice among patients in routine radiotherapy care. Are there diferences in characteristics between self-care practitioners and non-practicing patients?

Methods

A study questionnaire including self-care and symptoms was delivered to 507 eligible patients undergoing radiotherapy at radiotherapy clinics in Sweden. The questions about self-care practice were responded by n=439 (51% women, 49% men) with breast (38%), prostate (33%), or other cancer (29%) types.

Results

Of the responding patients, 43% (n=189) practiced some form of self-care. The 332 self-reported descriptions of self-care were categorized into 14 self-care strategies of which six were practiced by more than 10 patients: physical activity (n=113), increased recovery (n=69), healthy eating (n=66), distraction (n=24), skincare (n=20), and self-medication (n=12). The most common indicators for self-care practice were fatigue (experienced by 72 %), general wellbeing (poor general wellbeing experienced by10%), psychological symptoms (worrying experienced by 44% and feeling sad by 42%), nausea (experienced by 34%), vomiting (experienced by 12%), and improving physical condition. Of the patients reporting experience of the above symptoms, 42%, 46%, 48%, 41%, 53%, and 47% practiced selfcare. Older age, relative risk (RR) 2.62, 95% confdence interval (CI) 1.6-4.28 and lower education i.e., elementary and secondary school, RR 1.75,CI 1.00-3.03 and RR 1.46, CI 1.16-1.85 were independently related with increased likelihood of being non-practitioners.

Conclusions

Roughly 40% of patients undergoing radiotherapy in a routine care setting practiced self-care. The most common indicator was fatigue, and the most common self-care strategy was physical activity. Half of symptomatic patients are non-practitioners who might beneft from evidenced based self-care. Among them, older and those with lower education might need more support in selfcare than others.