The importance of enhancing self-efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis

Arthritis Care Res. 1997 Feb;10(1):18-26. doi: 10.1002/art.1790100104.

Abstract

Objective: To examine relationships among changes in self-efficacy and changes in other clinically relevant outcome measures.

Method: Subjects (n = 44) were participants in a prospective, randomized stress-management study followed over 15 months. Outcome measures included self-efficacy, depression, pain, health status, and disease activity.

Results: Correlational analyses revealed significant associations between changes in self-efficacy (particularly total self-efficacy) and changes in selected measures of depression, pain, health status, and disease activity. The observed associations were not due to changes in medication regimen or to nonadherence to the stress-management program.

Conclusions: Evidence is provided that induced changes in self-efficacy following a stress-management program were significantly related to other clinically important outcome measures.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living*
  • Aged
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Relaxation Therapy / standards*
  • Self Care*
  • Self Concept*
  • Stress, Psychological / etiology*
  • Stress, Psychological / prevention & control*