Effects of self-efficacy and perceived social support on recovery-related behaviors after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

This study investigated the extent to which measures of perceived internal and external resources, operationalized as self-efficacy and social support respectively, contribute to the prediction of participation in important recovery behaviors following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Self-efficacy ratings obtained preoperatively related to the ability to rest and tolerate pain without the use of medications contributed significantly to the prediction of pain anal sleep medication use postoperatively, after controlling for important demographic, medical, and surgical variables. Patients' reports of staff and significant-other interactions regarding adherence to cued productive coughing and ambulation accounted for significant proportions of the variance in these recovery behaviors. Results support models of recovery from surgery that emphasize the important roles of self-efficacy and social interaction.