The effect of motivational interviewing on self-efficacy and life satisfaction in cancer patients

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of motivational interviewing on self-efficacy and life satisfaction in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted between January 2020-June 2022 as a semi-trial model with a pre-test, post-test, and control group. The target population of the research was composed of all cancer patients in the General Surgery and Oncology Departments of Fırat University Hospital. The sample population of the study consisted of 55 experiments and 55 controls selected by random sampling method from this population, totaling 110 patients. In collecting the data, the Personal Information Form, Self-Efficacy Scale (SES), and Life Satisfaction Survey (LSS) were used. Six motivational interviews were conducted with the experimental group of patients after the preliminary test. No intervention was applied to the control group of patients. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and correlation analysis tests were used to evaluate the data. Results: The mean SES pre-test score of the experimental group patients was found to be 62.25±4.53, the mean post-test score was 81.20±4.25, the mean LSS pre-test score was 18.94±2.15, and the mean post-test score was 24.96±2.54. The mean SES pre-test score of the control group patients was 61.03±4.49, the mean of the post-test score was 63.74±5.91, the mean of the LSS pre-test score was 18.30±1.70, and the mean of the post-test score was 19.70±0.75. It was determined that the differences between the SES and LSS pre-test and post-test score averages of the experimental and control groups were statistically significant (p< 0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that motivational interviewing increases self-efficacy and life satisfaction in cancer patients. It may be suggested that motivational interviewing should be used as a method to support treatment in nursing practices. Keywords: Cancer, Nursing, motivational interviewing, self-efficacy, life satisfaction