Relationship Between Psychological Distress, Cognitive Coping and Sexual Self-Efficacy of Cervical Cancer Survivors in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana

Abstract

The study examined how demographic factors, psychological distress and cognitive coping relate to sexual self-efficacy and assessed how sources of self-efficacy predict sexual self-efficacy among cervical cancer survivors at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Cross-sectional survey was used. The sample size was 89 respondents and the consecutive sampling technique was employed. Questionnaire was used for data collection and the research instrument includes Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Coping Adaptation Processing Scale (CAPS), Sources of Self-Efficacy Questionnaire and Multidimensional Sexual Self Concept Questionnaire (MSSCQ). The data was analysed using frequencies and percentages, One-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regressions. The study revealed that, cervical cancer survivors experienced sexual health challenges before and after diagnosis and treatment. More so, sexual self-efficacy was influenced negatively by psychological distress and positively by sources of self-efficacy. However, the differences in survivors’ age and time since treatment began had no significant influence on survivors’ sexual self-efficacy. Based on the findings, I recommend that Ghana Health Service should adopt a multi-disciplinary care approach in the management of cervical cancer, organise periodic training for health professionals on effective health worker-patient communication and also, there is the need to intensify regular nation-wide education and awareness of cervical cancer and its treatments-related sexual health challenges.