The relationship of arthritis self-efficacy to functional performance in older men and women with osteoarthritis of the knee.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between arthritis self-efficacy (ie, the confidence a person has in the ability to perform a specific task) and self-reported functional performance among older men and women with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. The findings suggest that the relationship between arthritis self-efficacy and functional performance varies with gender. An older woman's confidence in her ability to perform tasks affects her perceived functional performance. However, this perception may not be true for older men with OA of the knee.