Trajectories of self-efficacy in persons with chronic illness: an explorative longitudinal study

Self-efficacy is important for changing health behaviour in persons with chronic illness. Longer term trajectories have not been previously explored.

This study's objective was to explore the trajectories of self-efficacy in two different groups with chronic illnesses attending a patient education course.

The study design was a longitudinal, comparative cohort study with five time points during a one-year follow-up, using repeated measures analysis of variance.

Persons with morbid obesity (n = 55) and persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; n = 56) were recruited at the start of patient education courses in Norway and followed-up four times the following year.

The General Self-Efficacy Scale was the main outcome.

Obese persons showed a linear pattern of increasing self-efficacy during the follow-up period, whereas persons with COPD had an initial increase followed by a decrease in self-efficacy. Having paid work was associated with a more positive self-efficacy trajectory.

The results provide support for the currently employed patient education course for morbidly obese persons. In contrast, persons with COPD may need more extensive and/or more frequent support in order to increase and maintain self-efficacy across time.