How patients cope with and manage their chronic condition when not under direct medical supervision makes a difference in their quality of life, their health, and their utilization of the healthcare system—and such self-efficacy and self-management can be both time-consuming and complex.

The concept of self-efficacy is receiving increasing recognition as a predictor of health behavior change and maintenance. The purpose of this speech is to facilitate a clearer understanding of both the concept and its relevance for health behaviour, practice, healthcare quality, patient safety and quality of life in general. A patient who believes in being able to produce a desired effect can conduct a more active and self-determined life course. Health specific self-efficacy is a person’s optimistic self-belief about being capable to resist temptations and to adopt a healthy lifestyle. A co-creating Health program enables clinicians and patients to make their interactions and healthcare institutions/system as productive as possible.