Self-care self-efficacy, quality of life, and depression after stroke

Objective: To determine the relationship of self-care self-efficacy to functional 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 Promote Health, Quality of Life Index-Stroke Version, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Functional Independence Measure. Results: Self-care self-efficacy increased after stroke and was strongly correlated with quality of life measures and depression at both 1 and 6 months after stroke. Functional independence and quality of life increased over time, while depression decreased. Functional independence was modestly correlated with quality of life at 6 months after stroke, but not at 1 month after stroke. Conclusions: Self-care self-efficacy is strongly related to quality of life and to depression. Clinicians and family may encourage stroke patients' self-confidence, expectations for self-care, and self-efficacy behaviors, thereby improving patients' quality of life.