Predicting self‐efficacy using illness perception components: A patient survey

Objectives. To assess the measures of illness representation components in predicting measures of self‐efficacy in patients with coronary heart disease. Design. A longitudinal design was adopted with predictor variables and dependent variables (general self‐efficacy, diet self‐efficacy and exercise self‐efficacy) measured twice while participants were in hospital and 9 months following discharge. Change scores of the predictor variables can be calculated and dependent variables at baseline can be controlled. Method. A cohort sample of 300 patients admitted to hospital with coronary heart disease were given the questionnaire measuring their illness perception (illness representation components: identity, consequences, timeline and control/cure and outcome expectation for diet and exercise); self‐efficacy (general, diet and exercise self‐efficacy measures), demographic and illness characteristics and attendance on a cardiac rehabilitation programme. The patients were asked to complete the questionnaire in hospital before discharge following their cardiac diagnosis, and again, 9 months later, when participants were expected to be functioning independently of any rehabilitation programme. Results. Demographic and illness characteristics were found to have a more significant relationship with illness representation components than with specific self‐efficacy. The relationship between illness representation components and specific self‐efficacy changes overtime, consequence and timeline were significantly related to self‐efficacy measures initially; however, symptom and control/cure were the variables that were significantly related to self‐efficacy measures 9 months later. After statistically controlling individuals' baseline self‐efficacy measures, demographic and illness characteristic effects, symptom and control/cure were found to make significant contributions to exercise and diet self‐efficacy, respectively, 9 months later. Conclusion. A significant relationship exists between illness representation and self‐efficacy. There is potential to integrate both approaches to the assessment of psychosocial factors to provide effective individualized care in cardiac rehabilitation.