Abstract: Objective To investigate the factors affecting the self-care efficacy of primary hepatic carcinoma
(PHC) patients in different ages after TACE and to explore the appropriate nursing measures. Methods Total
of 282 patients with PHC in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2013 to September
2013 were selected and divided into three groups based on the age: the young group (≤ 45 years old, n =
80), the middle age group (45～60 years old, n = 120) and the elderly group (≥ 60 years old, n = 82). The
levels and constituent ratio of self-care efficacy of the three groups were compared. Questionnaires were used
to analyze the factors that might affect the self-care efficacy of PHC patients after TACE. Health Promotion Strategy
Scale, Social Support Scale and Memorial Symptom Assessment Scales were used to evaluate the correlation of the
self-care efficacy and the physical, psychological and social factors. Results The self-care efficacy was low in all
groups and no statistical differences were shown (P > 0.05). Factors affected the self-care efficacy of the
young group included marital status, income situation, duration of disease, health training status, number
of interventional treatments and level of serum AFP. Factors affected the middle age group included family
type and level of serum AFP. Education situation and ECOG score affected the elderly group. The self-care
efficacy of all groups had positive correlation with mental function and symptoms of adverse reactions and
negative correlation with psychological symptoms. The young group were also correlated with social function,
while other groups with physical function and symptoms. Conclusion Different factors induce low level of
self-care efficacy in different groups based on age, and the personalized care was necessary