Effects of a Self- Efficacy Promoting Program on Perceived Self Efficacy, Weight Control Behaviors, and Body Weight among Overweight Patients with Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Body weight is one of the most important risk factors of osteoarthritis. This quasi- experimental research aimed to study the effect of a Self-efficacy Promoting Program for Weight Control (SEPP-WC) on perceived self-efficacy, weight control behaviors, and body weight among overweight patients with osteoarthritis. Forty-eight participants were purposively selected based on criteria and then assigned into the experimental or comparison group (24 persons per group). The researcher used the matching pair technique to assure similar attributes in terms of gender, age, body mass index, and the osteoarthritis scores. The research interventions were the SEPP-WC and care plan. Data were collected using the Perceived Self-efficacy Questionnaire (α = .79), Weight Control Behavior Questionnaire (α = .81), and a weighing scale. The experimental group received the SEPP-WC for 12 weeks, while the comparison group received routine care. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test and paired t-test. The results revealed that, after the intervention, the experimental group had statistically significant higher mean scores for perceived self–efficacy and weight control behaviors, t(23) = -16.91, p < .05, t(23) = -12.92, p < .05, but their mean scores for body weight control were statistically significant lower, t(23) = 6.09, p < .05. The experimental group had statistically significant higher mean scores for perceived self–efficacy and weight control behaviors than the comparison group, t(23) = 12.34, p < .05, t(23) = 6.46, p < .05, but  the mean score for their body weights were not statistically significant lower, t(23) = -14.59, p = .15.  The findings indicate that the SEPP-WC can be successfully applied to enhance the confidence of overweight patients with osteoarthritis with regard to weight control.