Research Article

Self-Efficacy for Disease Management Among Hypertensive and Diabetic Patients at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Self-efficacy influences patients’ confidence and ability to perform recommended diseasemanagement behaviours. However, evidence on self-efficacy among hypertensive and diabetic patients in Nigeria, particularly in Rivers State, remains limited. This study assessed self-efficacy for disease management among hypertensive and diabetic patients attending Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 patients comprising 150 with hypertension only, 90 with diabetes only, and 160 with comorbid hypertension and diabetes. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and chisquare tests at a 5% significance level. Overall, 41.0% of respondents had high, 39.5% moderate, and 19.5% low general chronic disease self-efficacy. High hypertension-specific and diabetes-specific self-efficacy were reported by 54.2% and 52.8% of respondents, respectively. Education and socioeconomic status were significantly associated with selfefficacy among diabetes-only and comorbid respondents. Most patients demonstrated moderate to high self-efficacy for disease management, although substantial proportions had low or moderate levels. Strengthening interventions that build patients’ confidence and disease-management capabilities may support effective chronic disease care. 

Authors affiliation:

Queen Desmond Atuzie (ORCID): Department of Public Health Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Anthony Ike Wegbom: Department of Public Health Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Priscilia Nyekpunwo Ogbonda (ORCID): Department of Public Health Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Adeniyi Francis Fagbamigbe: Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

How To Cite: Q.D. Atuzie, A.I. Wegbom, P.N. Ogbonda, and A.F. Fagbamigbe. Self-Efficacy for Disease Management Among Hypertensive and Diabetic Patients at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Healthcare Studies, 4(2):98–107, 2026. https://doi.org/10.58612/hs4213