Self-Management Education for Patients with Cancer: Evidence Summary

Guideline Objective

• To define self-management education interventions, and essential components or elements, with respect to cancer.
• More specifically, to identify self-management education interventions that have been shown to support patients with cancer in developing the skills needed for effective self-management of disease, and self-management of the acute or immediate, long-term, and late harmful effects of cancer treatment, while avoiding preventable complications and improving quality of life.

Patient Population

The target population consists of adult patients 18 years and older in the treatment or recovery/survivorship phases of the cancer journey.

Intended Guideline Users

This evidence summary is targeted for healthcare providers involved in the development of programs to enhance patient education and self-management support, and clinicians and researchers.

Research Question(s)

1. What is the effectiveness of self-management education interventions in reducing physical symptoms and emotional distress in adult patients with cancer?
2. What components or elements of each self-management education intervention are associated with the strength of its effectiveness?
3. Are there patient characteristics that are associated with each effect found?