Journey from Self-Efficacy to Empowerment

Vulnerable populations face barriers to care that affect health status. This paper provides a theoretical and empirical literature review of self-efficacy and its significance to nursing and the health care community. Theories that guide self-efficacy are briefly identified along with relevant propositions and relationships. Various studies are reviewed for theoretical basis, level of evidence measures, methods, findings and limitations. Implications for future studies and application to practice are evaluated and presented. Specific knowledge gaps are identified. Due to the lack of information on the relationship of self-efficacy and empowerment specific to vulnerable populations an avenue for future study is suggested.