Determination of self-efficacy and social support levels of open-heart surgery patients

This study was carried out in a descriptive design to determine the self-efficacy and social support levels of open-heart surgery patients. The sample was composed of a total of 242 voluntary patients who had open heart surgery at the Health Sciences University Ahi Evren Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital located in the city center of Trabzon. The data were collected using the "Personal Information Form", the "Bernason Efficacy Expectation Scale Cardiac Surgery Version (BEES)", and the "Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)" prepared by the researcher. In the analysis of the data, percentage, mean, standard deviation, maximum and minimum values, independent groups t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, One-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis Variance Analysis, and Spearman Correlation Analysis were used. The study revealed that the patients had a moderate level of self-efficacy and had a high level of social support. A statistically significant difference was found in the mean BEES total score and sub-dimension mean scores of the patients in terms of age, gender, education level, people living together, employment status, the status of receiving education about disease and surgery, people who provided education, and the status of finding the education sufficient (p<0.05) A significant difference was found in the mean MSPSS total score and sub-dimension mean scores in terms of gender, marital status, type of surgery, and those who received education (p<0.05). A statistically significant and positive correlation was found between the patients' perceived social support total scores and the total self-efficacy score and all self-efficacy subscale scores. As the level of self-efficacy increases as social support increases in patients, the evaluation of open-heart surgery patients by nurses in the nursing care process, supporting them with home care education, helping them gain positive behavioral changes, and increasing their self-efficacy beliefs can contribute to the care process of patients and accelerate their recovery.