Efficacy theory and its utility in arthritis rehabilitation: review and recommendations

Self-efficacy, a cognitive construct implicating one's self-perception about one's performance ability, has been found to be a significant predictor of psychological well-being, adherence to prescribed treatments, and pain coping mechanisms of persons with arthritis. Heightened self-efficacy may also ameliorate arthritis-related symptoms of fatigue and depression, and preserve function and prolong physical well-being.

To elaborate upon the utility of self-efficacy enhancing strategies as this pertains to ameliorating arthritis-related disability, this paper examined the related literature on this topic and detailed the outcomes and nature of those self-efficacy enhancing strategies that have been incorporated into arthritis treatment regimens.

Despite limitations in the prevailing database, results indicated: (1) self-efficacy is potentially a potent predictor of the overall health status of the person with arthritis; and (2) carefully designed self-efficacy enhancing strategies are likely to impact favourably upon the magnitude of the disability experienced by individuals with arthritis.

In relation to maximizing the therapeutic outcomes for disabling arthritis, the concept of self-efficacy is very worthy of the clinical practitioners and the clinical researchers attention.