Objective: To determine the relationship of self-care self-efficacy to func
tional independence, quality of life, and depression after stroke.
Methods: Longitudinal, descriptive correlational design.
Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation facility at 1 month after stroke and home
at 6 months after stroke.
Participants: Sixty-three stroke survivors.
Main Outcome Measures: Four instruments: Strategies Used by People to Promo
te Health, Quality of Life Index-Stroke Version, Center for Epidemiologic S
tudies Depression Scale, and Functional Independence Measure.
Results: Self-care self-efficacy increased after stroke and was strongly co
rrelated with quality of life measures and depression at both 1 and 6 month
s after stroke. Functional independence and quality of life increased over
time, while depression decreased. Functional independence was modestly corr
elated with quality of life at 6 months after stroke, but not at 1 month af
ter stroke.
Conclusions: Self-care self-efficacy is strongly related to quality of life
and to depression. Clinicians and family may encourage stroke patients' se
lf-confidence, expectations for self-care, and self-efficacy behaviors, the
reby improving patients' quality of life.