Self-Efficacy and Quality of Life After Stroke

Approximately 3 million Americans are living with various degrees of disability from stroke. A greater understanding of the psychosocial aspects of stroke would enhance the practice of neuroscience nurses who work with stroke survivors. Further, there is an interest in alternative strategies to improve function beyond the expected neural recovery. Mechanisms to enhance stroke recovery include psychological adaptations such as self-care self-efficacy, which is defined as the confidence a person has in his or her ability to perform relevant self-care activities. This study identified a relationship between self-care self-efficacy and quality of life after stroke. Depression and functional independence also were considered because they are important to understanding the primary relationship between self-care self-efficacy and quality of life. A descriptive correlational design was used. Sixty-three stroke survivors from an inpatient rehabilitation facility were studied at 1 month after stroke and at home 6 months after stroke. Instruments used to measure patients' quality of life employed were the Strategies Used by People to Promote Health, the Quality of Life Index—Stroke Version, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression Scale, and the Functional Independence Measure. Self-care self-efficacy was strongly correlated with quality of life and depression after stroke. Self-care self-efficacy, quality of life, and functional independence increased at 6 months after stroke and depression decreased. Functional independence was modestly correlated with quality of life at 6 months after stroke. Nurses can assist patients to increase their confidence and motivation after stroke by encouraging self-care self-efficacy behaviors, thereby improving quality of life.