The mediating role of self-efficacy between activation and exercise compliance in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

This study examined the mediating role of self-efficacy between patient activation and exercise compliance in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) patients. Convenience sampling method was adopted to select 305 patient cases who underwent ARCR in the sports medicine department of a tertiary orthopedic specialty hospital in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from September 2024 to May 2025. A self-administered general information questionnaire, Patient Activation Measure-13 (PAM-13) scale, Rehabilitation Exercise Compliance Scale, and General Self-Efficacy Scale were used to investigate the patients. Pearson correlations were performed using SPSS 26.0 (Chicago) to analyze the relationship between the Patient Activation Measure-13, Rehabilitation Exercise Compliance Scale, and General Self-Efficacy Scale. Mediating effects were tested by Bootstrap. ARCR patient activation was positively correlated with exercise compliance; patient activation and self-efficacy were positively correlated; and self-efficacy and exercise compliance were positively correlated. The results of the mediation effect analysis showed that the mediation effect of self-efficacy between activation and exercise compliance in ARCR patients was 0.066, and the mediation effect accounted for 50% of the total effect. Self-efficacy partially mediates the effect between patient activation and exercise compliance. Healthcare professionals and family members should enhance encouragement and supervision of patients to strengthen their belief in recovery and self-confidence, thus promoting individuals to adopt positive health exercise behaviors.