Table 3.
General Healthcare and Chronic Condition Self-Efficacy
| General Healthcare Self Efficacy* | Autistic mean (STD) N = 209 | Non-Autistic mean (STD) N = 228 | P-value |
| I can get reliable information about my health. | 7.2 (2.2) | 8.4 (1.5) | < 0.001 |
| When something concerns me about my health, I can ask my healthcare providers about it. | 6.5 (2.7) | 7.9 (2.0) | < 0.001 |
| When I have personal problems that may be related to my health, I can discuss them openly with my healthcare providers. | 5.9 (2.8) | 7.4 (2.5) | < 0.001 |
| I can judge when changes in my health mean I should visit a healthcare provider. | 6.6 (2.6) | 8.2 (1.8) | < 0.001 |
| When my healthcare providers prescribe medications, I can carry out the steps necessary to take them as prescribed. (For example, I get the prescription filled, I remember to take the medication, and I take the medication as advised.) | 7.8 (2.4) | 9.1 (1.6) | < 0.001 |
| I can do something to make myself feel better when I feel sad, discouraged, or depressed. | 6.2 (2.5) | 7.5 (2.1) | < 0.001 |
| I can do exercises three to four times per week (for example, range of motion, stretching, using weights, walking, swimming, or bicycling). | 6.9 | 7.1 | 0.01 |
| I can get emotional support (such as listening or talking over my problems) from friends, family, or other resources. | 5.8 (3.0) | 7.7 (2.5) | < 0.001 |
| I can get help with my daily tasks (such as housecleaning, yard work, or meals) from friends, family, or other resources, if needed. | 5.0 (2.9) | 6.9 (2.8) | < 0.001 |
| General Healthcare Self-Efficacy Composite Score | |||
| Total score: Mean (std) | 57.1 (15.5) | 70.5 (13.9) | < 0.001 |
| Internal consistency reliability (alpha) | 0.83 | 0.86 | |
| Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy** | Autistic mean (STD) N = 126 | Non-Autistic mean (STD) N = 119 | |
| I can keep the fatigue caused by my condition from interfering with the things I want to do. | 5.7 (2.7) | 6.5 (2.5) | 0.003 |
| I can keep the physical discomfort or pain of my condition from interfering with the things I want to do. | 6.3 (2.6) | 6.8 (2.5) | 0.05 |
| I can keep the emotional distress caused by my condition from interfering with the things I want to do. | 5.3 (2.7) | 6.8 (2.5) | < 0.001 |
| I can keep any other symptoms or health problems I have from interfering with the things I want to do. | 5.9 (2.5) | 6.8 (2.4) | 0.003 |
| I can do the different tasks and activities needed to manage my health condition so as to reduce my need to see a doctor. | 6.6 (2.3) | 7.7 (2.1) | < 0.001 |
| I can do things other than just taking medication to reduce how much my illness affects my everyday life. | 6.9 (2.3) | 7.8 (2.1) | 0.003 |
| Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Composite Score | |||
| Total score: Mean (std) | 35.6 (11.9) | 42.0 (12.3) | < 0.001 |
| Internal consistency reliability (alpha) | 0.88 | 0.91 | |
STD: standard deviation; alpha Cronbach’s alpha coefficient; N/A not applicable
*The General Healthcare Self-Efficacy Scale was prefaced by the following statement: “The following section asks about how confident you are in doing certain activities. For each of the following questions, please choose the number that corresponds to your confidence that you can do the tasks regularly at the present time.” Response options ranged from 0 (Not at all confident) to 10 (Totally confident)
**Only participants with chronic illnesses were asked to complete the Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale. It was prefaced by the following statement: “For each of the following items, please choose the number that corresponds to the confidence you feel accomplishing the specific task.” Response options ranged from 0 (Not at all confident) to 10 (Totally confident)