Information Provision, Decision Self-efficacy, and Decisional Conflict in Adopting Health Behaviors Among Patients Treated for Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: Health promotion is necessary to mitigate the negative consequences of colorectal cancer and its treatment. Rates of behavior modification are low in populations of cancer patients. Studies are needed to determine the factors, such as decisional conflict, which influence adoption of healthy behaviors following a cancer diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of information provision, decision self-efficacy, and decisional conflict on the adoption of healthy behaviors among patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: This cross-sectional study focused on 251 patients with colorectal cancer in South Korea. Information provision, decision self-efficacy, and decisional conflict were measured using validated instruments. Patients rated their decisional conflict related to the adoption of behaviors that include regular exercise and a balanced diet. RESULTS: Most participants (73%) reported low satisfaction with the amount of information received. Of the participants, 64% had low decision self-efficacy, and 80% experienced decisional conflict. The perception of a higher level of information provision was associated with greater decision self-efficacy (odds ratio, 4.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.61-13.35). Higher decision self-efficacy was associated with lower decisional conflict (odds ratio, 5.19; 95% confidence interval, 2.33-11.59). CONCLUSION: Receiving adequate information is important for promoting patients' confidence in making decisions about their health and reducing decisional conflict in the adoption of healthy lifestyle changes following a cancer diagnosis. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: Oncology nurses should assess patient information needs and promote decision self-efficacy, thus empowering patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer to make lifestyle decisions that improve their health and quality of life.