Effects of Treatment on Two Types of Self-Efficacy in People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Self-management is crucial in people with chronic diseases, and self-efficacy has been shown to impact patients' self-management. The purposes of this study were to 1) determine the effect of intervention on self-efficacy and 2) determine the relationship between domain-specific self-efficacy, walking performance, and symptom severity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Subjects (n = 102, forced expiratory volume in 1 second % predicted 44.8 ± 14) received one of three self-management interventions. Self-efficacy for walking and managing shortness of breath, walking performance, and shortness of breath severity were measured at baseline and after intervention. Self-efficacy increased after intervention (P < 0.01). Self-efficacy for walking was positively related to walking performance (P < 0.05). Self-efficacy for managing shortness of breath was positively related to symptom severity (P < 0.05). This study examined two types of disease-specific self-efficacy in patients with COPD and demonstrated that improving self-efficacy is an important outcome of self-management interventions. Studies in other domains of self-efficacy are needed.