Epilepsy self-management: a test of a theoretical model.

This study examines the role of social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, and anxiety as predictors of medication management in persons with epilepsy. A model based on social cognitive theory was constructed to explain managing medications under conditions of scarcity. A survey instrument was sent to 450 individuals who participated in job training programs for persons with epilepsy. One hundred ninety-five completed questionnaires were returned and met the inclusion criteria. The proposed structural model was tested using structural equation modeling procedures. The assistance aspect of social support was positively related to regimen-specific support. The paths from self-efficacy to outcome expectancy and anxiety were significant and in the predicted directions, as was the path from anxiety to self-management.