Self-efficacy and social support among 68 people living with HIV/AIDS in Hubei Province*

Abstract

wang jn & li rm (2011) Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness 3, 488–495 Self-efficacy and social support among 68 people living with HIV/AIDS in Hubei Province Background. Both self-efficacy and social support seem to exert positive influence on health-related variables that might influence the health outcomes; however, there are no findings to explore the level of self-efficacy and social support among people living with HIV/AIDS in China, this deficient understanding will be a negative factor to provide efficient care for these people. Aims and objectives. This study: (i) described demographic characteristics, health status, self-efficacy and social support among people living with HIV/AIDS and (ii) explored the correlations of demographic characteristics, health status, self-efficacy and social support among people living with HIV/AIDS. Results. Participants reported relatively high levels of social support, but low levels of self-efficacy. Spearman’s correlation revealed that self-efficacy was positively correlated with social support and negatively associated with symptoms manifested in last month, while social support positively related to self-efficacy, education, income and CD4+ lymphocyte count in the blood checked in the latest time. Conclusions. Healthcare providers may consider further interventions to promote self-efficacy and enhance social support in HIV/AIDS-positive individuals in highly HIV-infected areas of China, as the available social support did not seem to be effective in increasing their self-efficacy.