An exploratory study of nursing and medical students health promotion counselling self-efficacy

Self-efficacy of nursing and medical students for client health promotion counselling was examined in an exploratory study using Bandura’s (1977) self-efficacy theoretical perspective. Third-year nursing students (n =41) and fourth-year medical students (n =60) were compared on their self-efficacy for engaging in clients health promotion activities within 5 areas: smoking, exercise, nutrition, sexually-transmitted diseases and injuries. Their self-efficacy about their knowledge levels in the same 5 areas of health was also compared along with their perceptions of the relative impact of various curricular learning experiences on building health promotion counselling self efficacy. Self-efficacy scores were high for both groups. Nursing students scored significantly higher on both knowledge and ability to counsel patients in the areas of exercise, nutrition and injury prevention. In both groups, confidence in knowledge for health promotion activities was higher than ability to counsel patients. Learning specific health promotion strategies in class and actual practice were strongly associated with nursing students’ self-efficacy while practice, feedback on performance, and role modelling were strongest for medical students.