Background: Self-management programs based on Social Cognitive Theory(SCT) is useful to improve health care outcomes for chronic disease patients. Self-efficacy has a mediation role in self-management activities, and the adoption and maintenance of health behavior changes of people with chronic disease. A few study, however, reviewed how the theory applied to Korean self-management programs.

Objects: The purpose of this review was to identify and synthesize published research, to examine the strengths and weaknesses in applying the theory to self-management programs, and ultimately to find best one to improve self-efficacy in Koreans with hypertension and DM.

Methods: The investigators searched Korea Research Information Center for Health, Korea Education and Research Information Service, Korea Library of Congress, Medline, the Cochrane Library, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases from 2000 to September 2009. Twenty published studies targeting Koreans with hypertension and DM were reviewed.

Results: A lack of consistency among the studies regarding the methods and contents of the SCT utilization did not allow a decision on the best self-management program to enhance self-efficacy in Koreans with hypertension and DM.

Conclusions: Self-management programs addressing the four learning strategies SCT recommended may increase self-efficacy of Koreans with hypertension and DM to manage their chronic disease, and improve their health outcomes. However, the best course for self-management program remains to be determined.