The use of self-efficacy in cardiac rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehabilitation patients' perceptions of their ability to perform an exercise prescription can mediate how much effort they will expand toward exercise compliance. A review is made of self-efficacy theory and its application in research investigating the relationship between the self-efficacy and physical activity. This article explores how the nurse in cardiac rehabilitation can utilize the sources of efficacy information to assist the patient to modify the cardiovascular disease risk factor of sedentary lifestyle.