title: Self-care agency in two groups of pregnant women.
abstract: Self-care agency, a multidimensional concept in Orem's self-care deficit nursing theory, includes motivation, decision-making, energy, and knowledge necessary to perform self-care actions. Basic conditioning factors affect individuals' development and exercise of self-care agency. Secondary analysis of Appraisal of Self-Care Agency (ASA) scores in two groups of pregnant women, (1) a childbirth education group (n = 119) and (2) a clinic group (n = 127) was completed. Group 2 had significantly higher ASA scores. Several basic conditioning factors influenced ASA scores. Results offer implications for Orem's theory and maternity nursing practice.
authors.affiliation: Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, GA, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D009042:Motivation; D009742:Nursing Theory; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*