Perceived control and involvement in self care in patients with colorectal cancer

This paper reports the qualitative findings from a mixed methods study which explored patients’ understandings of perceived control in relation to their self care during chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. A greater degree of patient involvement in self care is increasingly being encouraged; however, little is known about how factors such as perceived control influence patients’ active involvement in self care. Semi structured interviews were conducted with 11 patients before and after six months of chemotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer in a Scottish cancer centre between March 2005–June 2006. The interviews, conducted as part of a larger study, explored patients’ understandings of their perceived control over managing treatment-related side effects and how this influenced their attitudes toward, and role preferences in, self care.