Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectancy: Analysis of Theory and Measurement in Occupational Therapy

抄録

Occupational therapy seeks to effectively change clients' behavior to result in better quality of life by both focusing on tasks that clients find purposeful and meaningful and by enhancing clients' sense of competence. Self-regulatory system theory similarly demonstrates that behaviors are best predicted by the combined influence of one's competence to perform a task (self-efficacy) and the purposefulness and meaningfulness of a task (outcome expectancy). In this paper, twenty-four scales for self-efficacy and outcome expectancy for older adults were reviewed. However, these scales were found not to be validly following the theoretical framework. Furthermore, in clinical contexts, therapists rarely evaluate clients' states using scales; rather they observe clients' nonverbal and verbal behavior. This observational assessment is not only found to be reliable but also helps to develop a strong working alliance and better rehabilitation outcome. Research is currently underway to develop a systematic method to identify which of the clients' cues are valid and reliable expressions of self-efficacy and outcome expectancy.