This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of a self-efficacy promoting program and analyze its components.

The material used for this study were 18 self-efficacy promoting program studies carried out from Jan. 1980 to Oct. 2003. The studies were analyzed in different categories: 1) types of dependent variables 2) sample characteristics 3) types of experimental treatment conditions 4) types of self-efficacy source and 5) total amount of time.

1) The weighted mean of a self-efficacy promoting program ranged from 1.383 to 0.015 2) for the experimental treatment condition, exercise had a much larger effect in increasing general self-efficacy and self-care than education 3) the studies using 3 sources had a much larger effect in increasing self-care than the studies using 4 sources 4) a time period longer than 900 minutes had a much larger effect in increasing specific self-efficacy, general self-efficacy and self-care than in a time period shorter than 900 minutes. 5) effect size of specific self-efficacy was significantly higher than general self-efficacy.

These results can be used to guide the development of a self-efficacy promoting program for nursing practice.