The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy, Self-Care, Health Literacy and Health-Related Quality of Life in People With...

This study aims to determine the relationship between self-care ability, health literacy (HL) and self-efficacy of people with spinal cord injury (PSCI) and their quality of life (QoL); and to evaluate it within the framework of Bandura's social cognitive theory.

This descriptive and relational study was carried out among 273 PSCI. Data for the study were collected using a descriptive information form, the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (ASIA), Self Efficacy-Sufficiency Scale (SE-SS), Health Literacy Survey Europa (HLS-EU), Self-Care Agency (SCA), World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief-Turkish (WHOQOL-BREF-TR). The study investigated the predictors of QoL in PSCI using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis and discussed the findings within the framework of social cognitive theory.

The participants' physical, mental, social and environmental subscales of the WHOQL-BREF were 6.00 ± 2.25; 7.00 ± 2.25; it was found that these scores were 6.78 ± 2.16 and 6.59 ± 2.14, respectively, and that all areas of QoL were affected. Female gender, single status, literacy level, age and ASIA injury level were found to be negative predictors of QoL. Receiving QoL counselling, high HL, self-care ability and self-efficacy were found to be positive predictors of QoL.

It was concluded that the QoL of PSCI was related to descriptive characteristics such as marital status, gender, advanced age, level of education and their self-care ability, HL and self-efficacy.