Building Competency in Diabetes Education THE ESSENTIALS

FOUNDATIONS OF DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT| 2-55

Figure 9. Social cognitive theory (157,162)

Individual

Environmental

Behavioural

Key elements: 1. Modeling : People learn by modeling the behaviour of others. 2. Behaviour capacity : In order to perform a behaviour, the individual needs to know what the behaviour is and must have the ability to perform it. 3. Outcome expectations : Every behaviour has an expected outcome that the person can anticipate. 4. Self-efficacy : A person’s degree of confidence that he/she can perform the behaviour. 5. Reinforcements : There are responses to behaviour; these will determine if the behaviour is repeated. 6. Self-control : Personal regulation of goal-directed behavior or performance; provide opportunities for self-monitoring, goal-setting, problem-solving and self-reward (161). There are numerous strategies used within this theory to affect behaviour change. A key element is the driving of personal awareness of what is directing one’s behaviour. Goal-setting, problem-solving, contingency management, cognitive restructuring and social support are tools to help the patient ‘rethink” their thought process (155). Evidence of the social cognitive theory can be seen in many areas of our lives. We are influenced through the media (environment) to eat certain foods, to wear fashionable clothes and to buy new cars. We live in neighbourhoods where we conform to social expectations by