Risk factors for low self‐care self‐efficacy in cancer survivors: Application of latent profile analysis

Abstract Aim To identify subgroups of cancer patients with distinct self‐care self‐efficacy profiles and to explore factors that can be used to predict those at risk of low self‐efficacy. Design A secondary analysis of data pooled from two cross‐sectional surveys was performed. Methods In total, 1,367 Chinese cancer survivors were included in the analysis. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to categorize participants into latent subgroups with distinct self‐efficacy profiles. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to identify predictors of self‐care self‐efficacy subgroup classification. Results We identified three distinct subgroups: low, medium and high self‐care self‐efficacy. Patients with the “low” profile, which was characterized by a low education level, single marital status, complications, late cancer stage and a lower level of social support, had the poorest self‐care behaviour.