Self efficacy, or the belief that one can self-manage one's own health, is an important goal of health care providers, particularly in chronic illness. This book explores the concept of self efficacy from theory, research, measurement, and practice perspectives. The core of the book is an international collaboration of nurses from the U.S. and the Netherlands who have developed tools for promoting and measuring self efficacy in diabetes management.

Author Biography

Elizabeth R. Lenz, PhD, RN, FAAN is Dean and Professor, College of Nursing, Ohio State University. Prior to assuming the deanship in September, 2001, she held faculty and academic administrative positions at Columbia University, The Pennsylvania State University, the University of Maryland, Georgetown University and Boston College. She is known for her work in doctoral nursing education and in nursing research career has focused on the family as the context for health and illness. Recent research concerns the outcomes and quality of nurse practitioner practice. She is former member, Editorial Board, Nursing Outlook, and between 1999 and 2001 served as an editor of Scholarly Inquiry for Nursing Practice.