DQ: Psychosocial theory in nursing practice includes factors, such as self-efficacy, stress and coping, learned helplessness, and social support

DQ: Psychosocial theory in nursing practice includes factors, such as self-efficacy, stress and coping, learned helplessness, and social support

Topic 6 Discussion Question 1

Self-efficacy is the most commonly applied concept of psychosocial theory. In the healthcare sector, self-efficacy theory has been considered a significant predictor of behavioral change (Shorey & Lopez, 2021). Self-efficacy aims at explaining the efforts and actions needed to change human behavior. The concept of self-efficacy relates to how an individual perceives his or her capacity to think, feel, motivate, and take an action to change a particular behavior. Self-efficacy also involves one’s belief in his or her capacity to perform a particular task and accomplish it, achieving the desired behavioral change. An individual processes, evaluates, and incorporates information obtained from diverse sources concerning one’s capability and integrates the desired behavioral change. One’s expectations concerning the efficacy and mastery of their capacity to perform activities of behavioral change depend on how an individual sees himself or herself in terms of self-esteem and self-concept.

The concept of self-efficacy relates to the selected DNP project, which focuses on the prevention of falls among elderly adults aged 60 years and above, receiving home healthcare. Self-efficacy will significantly influence nurses’ efforts and actions needed to accomplish the desired change. Through self-efficacy nurses believe in their capacity to implement fall prevention programs among elderly adults aged 60 years and above, receiving home healthcare to reduce the risk of falls in this population. Additionally, self-efficacy involves how elderly adults receiving home healthcare perceive their ability to think, feel, and take actions needed to prevent themselves from falling, thus reducing fall-related adverse outcomes. According to Haddad et al. (2021), treating fall related-related injuries imposes a huge financial burden on the United States healthcare system. Therefore, self-efficacy will play a significant role in preventing falls and fall-related injuries.

References

Haddad, Y. K., Bergen, G., & Florence, C. (2019). Estimating the economic burden related to older adult falls by state. Journal of public health management and practice: JPHMP, 25(2), E17. Doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000816.

Shorey, S & Lopez, V. (2021). Self-Efficacy in a Nursing Context. In book: Health Promotion in Health Care – Vital Theories and Research (pp.145-158). DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-63135-2_12