Determination of the relationship between care dependency and self-efficacy in geriatric individuals with cronic onstructive pulmoneary disease

The aim of this descriptive and cross-sectional study was to determine the relationship between care dependency and self-efficacy in geriatric individuals diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The study was conducted between February 2023 and December 2023 in the Chest Diseases clinics and outpatient clinics of Düzce University Health Application and Research Centre and Düzce Atatürk State Hospital. A total of 102 COPD patients aged 65 years and over were included in the study. Data were collected using Personal and Medical Characteristics Information Form, Care Dependency Scale and COPD Self-Efficacy Scale. Correlation tests, parametric comparison tests and descriptive statistical methods were used to evaluate the data. The mean age of the patients was 72.51±4.91 years. The mean score of the Care Dependency Scale was 41.29±14.09 and the mean score of the COPD Self-Efficacy Scale was 2.9632±0.61415. As a result of the study, it was determined that the patients were moderately dependent and their self-efficacy was moderate. In addition, it was determined that 38% of the change in the total scores of the patients' care dependency scale was explained by the total scores of the COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (R2: 0.380). In line with these results, it is recommended that nurses should evaluate the care dependency and self-efficacy of geriatric individuals with COPD simultaneously and plan trainings in line with their needs.