Life Situations Of Elderly People With Heart Disease: The Impact Of Self-Efficacy On Self-Care

A number of factors are associated with higher readmission rates, disabilities, and morbidity among elderly people with heart disease. There are few studies that have been done on self-efficacy among these individuals. The significance of this study was the identification of this phenomenon as a prognostic factor that could be related to patient outcomes. The researcher of this study analyzed data to identify areas where self-confidence lacks among this population; as a factor that might put patients at risk for readmission. The Cardiac Self-Efficacy Questionnaire was used to measure confidence levels of 20 elderly people, between the ages of 65 and 101 with heart disease. This instrument was administered to those individuals who reside at the Chai House, a senior residential living facility in Northern California. Most of the subjects also visit the nurse-managed center there. The study provided evidence that more attention needs to be focused on increasing self-efficacy around issues related to self-care measures.