Bandura’s self-efficacy theory developed in 1977 is about having confidence or belief in the ability to take action(s) that will lead to achieving expected outcomes (Peterson & Bredow, 2013). Concisely, self-efficacy is human agency over motivation and cognitive resources (Bandura, 1999). The theorist recommends tailoring self-efficacy to a particular function to promote optimal goal achievement from knowledge to the integration of skills (Bourbeau, Nault, & Dang-Tan, 2004). For this study self-efficacy is defined as a health behavioral change that has occurred because of an integration of skills for self-management. Self–efficacy according to Bandura’s theory is enhanced by four different …show more content…
Exercise interventions such as pursed lip breathing is a very common technique to reduce shortness of breath, improve gas exchange and activity limitations in COPD patients (Van Gestel et al., 2011). The controlled breathing program will consist of relaxation exercise, pursed-lip breathing, active expiration, diaphragmatic breathing and respiratory muscle training derived from pulmonary rehabilitation processes (Howard, Dupont, Haselden, Lynch, & Wills, 2010; Kasikci, 2011; Van Gestel et al., 2011).
This theory-based clinical intervention will be provided by clinical nurses trained by an advanced practice nurse. The structured breathing program will be implemented in short sessions throughout the course of the hospitalization. Before beginning the program, the patient will complete a COPD self-efficacy scale as a baseline measurement for post-intervention outcome measurement. Outcomes for the self-efficacy components will be discussed later (see Appendix B concept map for applying self-efficacy to COPD dyspnea). Based on the four tenets of self-efficacy the interventions