Health Self-efficacy Research Articles

Participant and group facilitator perspectives on a novel culturally tailored diabetes self-management program for African Americans.

African Americans with type 2 diabetes experience disparities in their care and diabetes health-related outcomes. Diabetes self-management programs such as Healthy Living with Diabetes (HLWD) are important but do not account for the unique cultural experiences of African Americans. Also, a culturally tailored program focused on addressing sociocultural beliefs and providing race-congruent peer support, Peers LEAD (Peers Supporting Health Literacy, Self-Efficacy, Self-Advocacy, and Adherence) was implemented in two midwestern cities to improve medication adherence but does not include diabetes self-management topics included in HLWD. In an attempt to fill the gaps from both HLWD and Peers LEAD, Peers EXCEL (Peers' Experience in Communicating and Engaging in Healthy Living) was designed to integrate both programs. Our study explored the perceptions of African American participants and facilitators of the separate HLWD and Peers LEAD programs, on the proposed new Peers EXCEL program using focus groups and interviews. Findings were analyzed by research assistants trained in qualitative research using deductive and inductive open coding approaches. Participants appreciated the cultural fit of Peers EXCEL for African American communities which is a feature that was lacking in HLWD. They shared the need to include topics such as the relationships between systemic racism and diabetes. Participants' feedback of Peers EXCEL reveals the importance of including various community members' perspectives in the design of new diabetes self-management programs tailored for African Americans.

The Effect of the Continuous Care Model on Oral Health, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Care in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Study Protocol for a Quasi-Experimental Study.

Head and neck cancer, with its unique challenges, often involves radiotherapy as a primary treatment. This can lead to complications affecting patients' well-being. A continuous care model offers potential benefits, but its effectiveness requires validation through rigorous studies. This protocol aims to evaluate its impact on patients undergoing head and neck cancer radiotherapy, contributing to improved care strategies and well-being. The study is a double-arm and parallel-group quasi experimental study in which a 4-week intervention will be compared with usual care. A total of 70 eligible patients with head and neck cancer who are undergoing radiotherapy will be recruited to the intervention or control group. The patients in the intervention group will receive a continues care model designed for head and neck cancer patients in four phases of Orientation, Sensitization, Control, and Evaluation. The primary outcomes include dental plaque and gingival index, which will be measured by an approved dentist using The Gingival and Quigley-Hein index. The secondary outcomes are Oral hygiene self-efficacy and Dental and Oral Health Self-Care Behavior which will be assessed by the Oral and Dental Health Self-Efficacy and Dental and Oral Health Self-Care Behavior Questionnaires. Descriptive statistics will be used to describe variables. According to the types of variables, appropriate statistical tests, including two-sample t-tests, Χ 2, analysis of covariance, or linear regression will be performed. In conclusion, this study aims to evaluate the impact of a continuous care model on head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Findings will contribute to enhancing care strategies and well-being in this population. The trial has been approved by the Research Ethics Committees of Zahedan University Of Medical Sciences. In this study, written consent will be obtained from all participants. The results will be presented to representative groups and published in peer-reviewed journals.

The relationship between sense of coherence and self-efficacy with well-being and mental health-the situation of students at a typical German university during the COVID-19 pandemic and 1 year after the lifting of social restrictions.

The present study aims to evaluate the role of sense of coherence and self-efficacy in relation to mental health and well-being, with and without social restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, this study seeks to investigate the differences in sense of coherence, self-efficacy, mental health and well-being depending on the manner in which the pandemic is being handled. A total of 27,162 students at Heidelberg University were surveyed via email at two measurement points, once with and once without social restrictions. The survey assessed sense of coherence, self-efficacy, mental health and well-being. To this end, the questionnaires Sense of Coherence Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, WHO-Well-being-Index and the General Self-Efficacy Scale were employed. A total of 2,398 individuals participated in the initial measurement, while 701 individuals participated in the subsequent measurement. The lifting of social restrictions has been associated with a notable improvement in well-being and mental health, particularly in the context of depressive syndromes. Further analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between the sense of coherence and self-efficacy at both measurement points, as well as between these two constructs and mental health and well-being. Furthermore, the sense of coherence and self-efficacy were found to account for a notable proportion of the observed variability in mental health and well-being values. Self-efficacy exhibited a significantly higher mean value at the initial measurement time point compared to the subsequent time point. In contrast, no significant difference was observed in the sense of coherence between the two measurement points. The findings presented here illustrate the significance of social interaction, sense of coherence and self-efficacy for mental health and well-being.

The Effects of a Web Application for Reducing the Risk of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema on Health Literacy and Self-Efficacy in Managing Symptoms Among Patients With Breast Cancer.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a web application on health literacy and self-efficacy in managing arm oedema symptoms among patients with breast cancer. The research was carried out in four phases as follows: Phase 1, using a qualitative approach to explore problems and information needs in educating breast cancer patients through in-depth interviews with 10 professional nurses who had experiences in caring for breast cancer patients and 20 breast cancer patients. Data were analysed by content analysis; Phase 2, designing and developing a web application and confirming its quality by five experts with experience caring for breast cancer patients; Phase 3, testing the web application with five breast cancer patients; and Phase 4, examining the effectiveness of a web application in breast cancer patients using a quasiexperimental research method. Patients were divided into 15 persons in control and 15 in intervention groups, a total of 30 persons. The tools used in the study consisted of (1) a web application on practices for reducing risk for arm oedema after breast cancer treatment, (2) a health literacy assessment tool, (3) a self-efficacy for managing symptoms questionnaire and (4) a web application satisfaction questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and t test. Qualitative findings: The web application should cover patients' and nurses' views on arm oedema causes, assessment, prevention and self-care for managing swelling after breast cancer treatment. Characteristics of a web application required: large text, bright colours, clear visibility, accompanying pictures or videos, using simple language without official terminology, easy to access, convenient to use, concise, interesting content and shareable to others. Quantitative findings: The intervention group had significantly higher health literacy and self-efficacy in managing symptom scores than before the trial (p < 0.001). Sample groups were satisfied with the developed web application at a high level. When considering each item, it was found that all items were rated at high levels. Two items with the same highest score were ease of use and the attractiveness of the presentation style. This web application, aimed at reducing the risk of arm oedema after breast cancer treatment, is an effective tool for educating all hospitalized patients. In addition, further research should be conducted to monitor the sustainability of long-term and clinical outcomes.

A Scoping Review of Factors Influencing Smoking Cessation in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

To provide a scoping review of studies on factors affecting smoking cessation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), so as to provide a basis for healthcare professionals to intervene early in the process of cessation of smoking in patients with COPD, and to formulate personalized interventions for smoking cessation. Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review methodology as a framework, searched databases including CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, China Biomedical Database, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ProQuest, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library to collect literature on factors influencing smoking cessation among COPD patients. The literature was screened, data extracted, and summarized accordingly. A total of 28 papers were included. The socio-demographic related factors affecting smoking cessation in patients with COPD were age, educational level, residence, marital status, occupational status, economic status, race, and sex; tobacco related factors included smoking index, smoking duration (years), cumulative smoking (packs/year), smoking intensity (packs/day), and tobacco addiction; disease related factors included mMRC score, GOLD level, severity of airflow restrictions, symptom, activity limitation due to lung problems, history of deterioration in outpatient care, receipt of COPD medication, receipt of lung CT, receipt of pulmonary function tests, receipt of surgery, and comorbid comorbidities; psychologically related factors included mental health status, quit smoking health beliefs, smoking cessation self-efficacy, motivation to quit smoking, stress, and adverse emotions; environmental/Interpersonal network related factors-included environmental impacts, social support, family support, tobacco control policies, and satisfaction with cessation care; and behavior related factors included alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, eating, physical activity, and have a hobby. Healthcare professionals should avoid critical education of COPD patients in the process of smoking cessation management, pay attention to the adverse effects of medication side effects on patients, emphasize the improvement of patients' health beliefs and self-efficacy in smoking cessation, and help patients to establish a correct cognition of smoking cessation.

Mental Health of Servicemen, POWs, and Civilians in Ukraine: A Comparative Study

This study aims to investigate the mental health differences among servicemen, POWs, and civilians affected by the war in Ukraine. Data were collected from three samples: (1) 149 servicemen from an elite combat troop of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (all men aged 22–59 years); (2) 217 POWs (209 men and 8 women aged 19–64 years); and (3) 330 civilian men aged 19–60 years. Participants completed self-report scales assessing three positive aspects of mental health (resilience, self-efficacy, and post-traumatic growth) and two negative aspects (PTSD symptoms and physical complaints). We observed significant differences between the three samples. POWs had the highest post-traumatic growth scores and reported the most physical complaints, reflecting the long-term effects of captivity. Civilians exhibited the highest levels of PTSD symptoms, likely due to continuous exposure to war-related stressors, while servicemen displayed the lowest negative mental health indicators. Contrary to expectations, resilience levels were similar between POWs and servicemen. This study expands current knowledge on the impact of modern war on mental health and suggests that targeted interventions should address both the unique challenges faced by POWs and the pervasive psychological distress experienced by civilians. These findings may inform the development of training programs for military personnel, healthcare specialists, and social service professionals to support those affected by war.

WAT’s up? Exploring the Impact of Wearable Activity Trackers on Physical Activity and Wellbeing: A Systematic Research Review

AbstractWearable activity trackers (WATs) can facilitate engagement in physical activity. Yet, there may be an additional psychological impact, which can influence their effectiveness. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to assess the impact of wrist-based WATs on physical activity and subsequent psychological wellbeing in healthy adults. The review was carried out using PRISMA guidelines and registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF). An initial search was conducted in December 2022 with a follow-up in October 2023. Databases included PsychInfo, PsycArticles, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and SPORTDiscus. Nine studies were selected for inclusion and reviewed. Most studies comprised white adults with an average age of 21.5 to 49 years. Participants were employed or students with a mostly normal BMI. Changes in self-efficacy for exercise, depressive symptoms, mental health and general wellbeing, quality of life and burnout were evaluated. Half the studies reported a WAT-related increase in physical activity engagement. Four studies assessed self-efficacy for exercise, with half observing an improvement post-intervention. Three studies assessed mental health and depressive symptoms with one observing improvement and two observing no change. The remaining studies included measures of burnout and quality of life, where only burnout scores improved 1-month post-intervention. Although the quality of the studies reviewed was acceptable, only 4 included a suitable control/comparison group. Further, the measurement of psychological wellbeing varied considerably. In sum, the results indicate that the effect of WATs on physical activity and subsequent psychological wellbeing is understudied. Further research is required to fully elucidate these relationships.

Online patient-provider communication and healthy ageing: the roles of health literacy and health self-efficacy.

eHealth involves using digital technologies, like electronic health records and telemedicine, to enhance healthcare delivery and outcomes. For older adults, eHealth helps manage chronic conditions, access services remotely, and engage in preventive health, improving physical and psychological well-being. This study investigates the association between online patient-provider communication (OPPC) and older adults' quality of life (QoL, i.e. sleep quality, exercise and psychological health). The study also explores how health literacy and health self-efficacy mediate the relationship between OPPC and QoL. This study utilized data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey, collected in 2019 (HINTS 5 Cycle 3), specifically targeting individuals aged ≥ 60 (N = 2587). The associations among variables were analysed using structural equation modelling. OPPC was positively and significantly associated with health literacy (β = 0.53, p < 0.001). Health literacy was positively and significantly related to health self-efficacy (β = 0.02, p < 0.001). Health self-efficacy was significantly related to five dimensions of QoL: sleep quality (β = 0.20, p < 0.001), fruit and vegetable consumption (β = 0.13, p < 0.010), exercise (β = 0.59, p < 0.001), sedentariness (β = -0.58, p < 0.001) and psychological health (β = 0.24, p < 0.001). Besides, health literacy and health self-efficacy also mediated the influence of OPPC on QoL sequentially, being identificators as two serial mediators between OPPC and older adults' QoL. This study suggests that OPPC plays an important role in older adults' QoL.

SmilesUp text message intervention for early childhood dental caries prevention: A protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Despite improvements in health outcomes for children, early childhood dental caries (ECC) remains a chronic lifestyle-mediated disease that affects an estimated 600 million children worldwide. Parental influence on oral health-promoting behaviours is pivotal in preventing ECC. The latest WHO publications Ending Early Childhood Dental Caries and Mobile Technologies for Oral Health highlights the opportunity for mobile Health programs (including text message programs) to improve oral health behaviours and oral health self-efficacy. In response, our team of parents, oral health professionals (academics and health promotion experts), and IT specialists co-designed a 12-week, behavioural theory-informed text message program (called SmilesUp) to address behavioural risk factors specific to ECC. This randomised trial aims to assess whether the SmilesUp program improves parents' oral health promoting behaviours (like tooth brushing twice a day with toothpaste) and oral health self-efficacy for their children compared to usual care. A randomised controlled trial with a 1:1 parallel design will be conducted among 150 parents with children diagnosed with ECC and accessing public dental care in NSW, Australia. Patients will be stratified by hospital site, and modality of care (Dental General Anaesthetic (DGA) or not) and then randomly assigned to either immediately receive the SMILESup text messaging intervention or receive the program at the end of the study period. The primary outcome at 12 weeks is twice daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste. Secondary outcomes include changes in the intake frequency of sugared drinks and foods, oral health promoting bedtime routines and oral health self-efficacy. The primary analysis will follow an intention-to-treat principle. In addition, a process evaluation will examine barriers, enablers, and opportunities to scale the program. Ethics approval has been obtained from the Western Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee 2022/ETH01920. Study results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences. Trial registration number: This clinical trial has been prospectively registered on the ANZCTR from the 27th of March 2023. Registration number: ACTRN12623000325606.

Physical health mindsets and information avoidance

Health mindsets refer to beliefs about the malleability (growth mindset) versus stability (fixed mindset) of physical health and have gained traction as a predictor of health beliefs and behaviors. Across two studies, we tested whether health mindsets were associated with avoiding personalized health risk information. In Study 2, we also tested whether conceptually-related constructs of internal and chance health locus of control, health self-efficacy, fatalism, and genetic determinism were associated with information avoidance. Health mindsets were manipulated in Study 1 (college students, n = 284; 79.58% female; Mage = 19.74) and measured in Study 2 (participants recruited through MTurk, n = 735; 42.04% female; Mage = 35.78). In both studies, participants viewed a prediabetes infographic and were informed they could learn their prediabetes risk by completing an online risk calculator. Behavioral obligation was also manipulated in both studies to test whether an additional behavioral requirement associated with learning one’s risk would exacerbate any negative impact of health mindsets on avoidance rates. All participants then indicated their interest in learning their prediabetes risk (avoidance intentions) and decided whether to complete the online risk calculator (avoidance behavior). In Study 1, there was no impact of health mindsets, behavioral obligation, or their interaction on avoidance intentions or behavior. Study 2 similarly did not provide consistent evidence for an association of health mindsets, behavioral obligation, or their interaction with avoidance intentions or behavior. However, in Study 2, internal health locus of control was consistently associated with both intentions and behavior. Health information avoidance may be a barrier to prevention and early detection of disease. To encourage individuals to learn potentially important health information, public health interventions might seek to increase people’s beliefs that their own actions play a role in their health outcomes. Interventions may also seek to increase people’s knowledge about and skills regarding improving their health outcomes, which may influence health locus of control beliefs.

The relationship between self-efficacy, health literacy, and quality of life in patients with chronic diseases: a cross-sectional study in China.

Self-efficacy and health literacy are closely related to the quality of life in patients with chronic diseases; however, it remains unclear whether their combined effects on the quality of life (QoL) in these patients operate through mediation, interaction, or a combination of both. The research occurred in China between July 10 and September 15, 2021. A multi-stage random sampling technique was utilized to gather information on self-efficacy, health literacy, and QoL among individuals with chronic diseases. Linear regression models investigated the relationships between these patients' self-efficacy, health literacy, and QoL. Additionally, the four-way decomposition method was used to decompose the overall effects of self-efficacy and health literacy on the QoL in patients with chronic diseases. Significant correlations were found between self-efficacy, health literacy, and QoL among individuals with chronic diseases (all p < 0.05). In the four-way decomposition results, the results of the European Quality of Life Five Dimension Five Level (EQ-5D-5L) displayed the interaction effects mediated by self-efficacy, and the reference interaction effects were not significant, with small effect sizes observed. The influence of health literacy levels on the QoL in these patients was primarily attributed to the controlled direct effect (CDE), accounting for approximately 86.12% [excess relative risk = 0.00415; 95% CI: 0.00326, 0.00504; p < 0.0001]. The proportion solely attributable to the pure indirect effect (PIE) of self-efficacy was 14.5% [excess relative risk = 0.0007; 95% CI: 0.00031, 0.00109; p < 0.0001]. In the EQ visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) results, the proportion of the controlled direct effect was 84.9% [excess relative risk = 0.62443; 95% CI: 0.52269, 0.72618; p < 0.0001], while the proportion solely attributable to the pure indirect effect of mediation was 14.8% [excess relative risk = 0.10876; 95% CI: 0.06409, 0.15344; p < 0.0001]. Self-efficacy and health literacy primarily influence QoL in patients with chronic diseases through controlled and pure indirect effects. Enhancing patients' health literacy and self-efficacy can contribute to improving their QoL.

Qualitative study on health self-management of patients with metabolic syndrome among bereaved population after earthquake

The study explore the influencing factors and healthy self-management of MS patients with bereaved relatives after Wenchuan and Yushu Earthquake of their real life; explore difficulties and challenges in the process of self-management; and supply information that could not be sought in quantitative studies. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 36 MS patients who are bereavement population in two earthquakes, and those patients met the inclusion criteria for semi-structured focus group interview. The Nvivo11 software was used to collate and analyze the transcribed data. The main influencing factors of health self-management behavior for MS patients are as follows: the degree of understanding of disease prevention knowledge, emotion management induced by earthquake trauma, the source of disease-related information, access and identification are very limited; ethnic traditional culture, religious beliefs, and production activities and routines before and after the earthquake is an important factor in their healthy self-management behavior. The lack of health beliefs and self-efficacy of MS patients among bereaved families after Wenchuan and Yushu earthquake are key obstacle in their self-management. The overall level of the knowledge of patients’ MS prevention, self-efficacy and self-management behaviors are still low. Some positive factors that can be changed including MS prevention knowledge, self-efficacy, social support, and family function. Some negative factors which can be improved afterwards, including negative coping style, traumatic life experiences from earthquake and smoking.

Psychological Interventions and Those With Elements of Positive Psychology for Child and Youth Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Literature Review, Lessons Learned, and Areas for Future Knowledge Dissemination.

There was a marked decline in child and teenage mental health worldwide during the pandemic, with increasing prevalence of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Research indicates that positive psychological interventions may be beneficial for mental health. The aims of this review were to evaluate positive psychological interventions for child and youth mental health implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess overall effectiveness for mental health and knowledge. We undertook a literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar for all eligible studies on digital and hybrid in-person psychological interventions for youth mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. A particular emphasis was placed on positive psychological interventions or interventions that had components of positive psychology, including gratitude, acceptance, positive emotions, or resilience building. A total of 41 interventions were included in this review. Most of the interventions were digital. Overall, most of the interventions assisted with one or more mental health or psychological indicators, such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, stress, and resilience. However, findings were mixed when it came to targeting both depression and anxiety together. The interventions that promoted youth mental health most often had a range of diverse positive psychology components and were evidence based. Not all studies measured changes in mindfulness. Few studies examined knowledge acquired on mental health self-care, managing mental health problems, knowledge of positive psychological techniques, mindfulness knowledge, or mental health self-efficacy. Diverse multicomponent interventions appear to assist with youth mental health overall, although their effects on both depression and anxiety are less clear. There is also a need for more research on knowledge gains to determine whether the interventions improved knowledge on mental health-supportive behaviors, which may be sustained beyond the intervention. Finally, more studies need to evaluate whether the interventions assisted with increasing self-efficacy for practicing positive psychological techniques as well as changes in mindfulness levels. Future studies should not only assess effectiveness for mental health outcomes but also assess knowledge translation, with valid measures of knowledge and self-efficacy for mental health-supportive behaviors and positive psychological skills acquired (eg, the ability to practice mindfulness).

Clinical Validation of the Nursing Diagnosis 'Inadequate Health Self-Efficacy' in People With Hypertension.

To test the clinical validity of clinical indicators and causal relationships of aetiological factors of the new nursing diagnosis of inadequate health self-efficacy in people with hypertension. The diagnosis of inadequate health self-efficacy has both theoretical and content validity. However, a clinical validation study is needed to establish an appropriate framework for distinguishing individuals who manifest this unique human response. The study adopts a cross-sectional clinical validation approach, adhering strictly to the STROBE guidelines throughout its design and implementation. Naturalistic sampling was used to identify 302 adults diagnosed with hypertension. Their data were subjected to latent class analysis, which facilitated the identification of a comprehensive set of clinical indicators that demonstrated better diagnostic accuracy and established posterior probabilities to guide the inference of inadequate health self-efficacy. In addition, logistic regression analysis was used to assess the magnitude of the impact of aetiological factors. The prevalence of inadequate health self-efficacy was 76.61%. Among the 13 indicators examined, seven demonstrated notable sensitivity: 'risk-prone health behaviour', 'failure to take action that prevents health problems', 'inadequate self-control', 'avoidance behaviours', 'negative health self-perception', 'inadequate health-related quality of life' and 'difficulty feeling good about adopting a healthy lifestyle'. Additionally, two indicators showed high specificity: 'difficulty feeling good about adopting a healthy lifestyle' and 'inadequate adherence to treatment regimen'. Notably, 15 aetiological factors were identified as significantly associated with an increased risk of inadequate health self-efficacy. A clinical framework consisting of eight clinical indicators and 15 aetiological factors was developed to characterise inadequate health self-efficacy in individuals with hypertension. Clinical validation provides insight into the precision of clinical indicators and the magnitude of the effect of putative causal elements, thereby facilitating identification and tailored intervention for individuals with hypertension and inadequate health self-efficacy.

Strengthening the mental health literacy and self-efficacy of school counsellors using “MDAS” module: A pilot project in Malaysia

Mental health difficulties affect children and adolescents pervasively. School counsellors serve as frontliners to support the students in need, but often face challenges from the complexity of their cases. This study aims to develop a training module named MDAS (Mental Health disorder, Developmental disorders, Attachment and Self-compassionate) program to improve the school counsellors’ mental health knowledge and counselling self-efficacy. The Module was adapted from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Training Module for Specialist 2009 (Second Edition). The study adopted a one group pre-test/post-test design to assess 28 school counsellors at 0-month and 4-month after the training. The scales used were Counselling Self-Efficacy scale (COSE), Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) and Self-Compassionate Scale – Short Form (SCS-SF). Post-training, there were significant increment of COSE and MHLS scores ( p &lt; .001 and p &lt; .046) with Cohen’s d of 1.01 and 0.58. Four of the COSE subscales (micro skills, counselling process, cultural competence and dealing with difficult clients’ behaviour) significantly increased after MDAS training ( p &lt; .001, p = .006, p = .001 and p = .01). In addition to increasing the counselling capacity of school counsellors, our training module can serve as a promising platform for mental health professionals and counsellors.

Predicting oral hygiene practices through health behavior, perceived stress and self-efficacy in undergraduate dental students of Pakistan: a national survey

BackgroundDental students face the rigorous demands of coursework, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and stress. These pressures can negatively influence self-efficacy and cause neglect in practicing healthy behaviors that encompass oral health. Identifying the associations of these variables with oral hygiene practices can help in the formulation of interventions tailored toward supporting young students. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of health behaviors, perceived stress and self-efficacy on oral hygiene practices among undergraduate dental students in Pakistan.MethodsA national online survey was carried out among 904 students across the dental colleges of Pakistan. The survey assessed general health behaviors such as tobacco use, sleep, and exercise, among other demographic variables. Perceived stress was evaluated via the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and self-efficacy was evaluated via the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). Twice daily brushing, brushing for 2 min, and changing toothbrushes after 3 months informed oral hygiene practice of the participants.ResultsThe students experienced moderate perceived stress (20.82 ± 5.92) and high self-efficacy (29.19 ± 5.43). The majority of participants were in their third year (31.9%), were female (65.9%), and resided in home during their studies (64.4%). Perceived stress was observed to have no significant effect on the oral practice of participants. Female gender, non tobacco user, regular exercise, frequent dental visits and higher self-efficacy were associated with good oral hygiene practices.ConclusionsThe results highlight the importance of addressing stress, enhancing self-efficacy and encouraging healthy behaviors among dental students to improve their oral health, which could be reflected in their professional practice and personal well-being. This study contributes to the understanding of behavioral determinants and emphasizes the need for supportive measures to foster better health behaviors in future dental professionals.

Bridging health self-efficacy and patient engagement with patient-centered culturally sensitive health care for Black American adults.

This study investigates whether systems-level interventions, specifically patient-centered culturally sensitive health care (PC-CSHC) from healthcare providers, office staff, and the clinic environment, moderate the relationship between health self-efficacy and patient engagement among Black American adults. An online survey was completed by 198 Black American adults. PC-CSHC from healthcare providers, office staff, and the clinic environment did not mitigate the adverse effects of low health self-efficacy on patient engagement. However, PC-CSHC from healthcare providers (b = 0.38) was as significant as health self-efficacy (b = 0.37) in predicting patient engagement, R2 = 0.47, F(9, 177) = 19.61, p < 0.001. Provider-delivered PC-CSHC can enhance patient engagement among Black American adults. This systems-level approach has the potential to reach more patients than intrapersonal interventions alone and alleviates the undue burden placed on Black Americans to leverage intrapersonal strengths in the face of health disparities rooted in structural racism.

The role of self-efficacy in shaping physical activity and mental health among middle-aged and older Asian immigrants in the United States

The role of self-efficacy in shaping physical activity and mental health among middle-aged and older Asian immigrants in the United States

Causal Relationship Model of Health Literacy, Self-Efficacy Perception, Self-Care Behaviors on Blood Sugar Levels Among Elderly People with Type-2 Diabetes

Objective: To develop a causal relationship model of health literacy, self-efficacy perception, and Self-Care Behaviors on Blood Sugar Levels of Type 2 Diabetes on Elderly and check for the developed model's consistency with empirical data. Method: The sample consisted of 455 elderly people with type-2 diabetes who could not control their glycemic control using stratified sampling. The tool used to collect data was a questionnaire. The confidence value was 0.804-0.964. The LISREL program analyzed structural equation model data. Results: The developed causal relationship model consisted of self-care behaviors as direct negative causes of blood sugar levels. Health literacy and self-efficacy were negative indirect causes of blood sugar levels with self-care behavior as a carrier. The developed model was consistent with the empirical data with Chi-Square = 62.20, df= 54, relative Chi-Square = 1.15, p = 0.20733, RMSEA = 0.0183, RMR= 0.00895, SRMR = 0.0186, GFI = 0.983, AGFI = 0.962, CFI = 0.999, NFI = 0.989 and all variables contributed to the percentage variance in blood glucose level. at 97.8 %. Conclusion: The findings revealed that in caring for the elderly with type 2 diabetes, health literacy development must be considered, self-efficacy perception and better self-care behavior in order to help reduce blood sugar levels in this group of elderly people in the end.

Does taking a health psychology course increase health self-efficacy and decrease psychological stress?

Does taking a health psychology course increase health self-efficacy and decrease psychological stress?