Self-Efficacy and Self-Care as Risk Factors for Ischemic Stroke: Development and Validation of a Nomogram

Abstract

Background: This study addresses the knowledge gap on how self-efficacy and self-care affect stroke risk as factors and develops a valuable tool for clinicians to assess stroke risk. Methods: From January 2022 to January 2023, this nested-case control study was conducted. Medical data including gender, age, ethnicity, locality, education, marital status, employment, caregiver, social environment, blood viscosity, Barthel Index, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), stroke risk score, self-care score, and self-efficacy score were collected. Logistic regression was used to predict stroke risk, and a nomogram was developed and validated. Results: 240 patients were included in the analysis. Stroke risk score (OR: 3.513; p = 0.005), self-efficacy score (OR: 0.753; p = 0.048), and self-care score (OR: 0.817; p = 0.018) were predictors of ischemic stroke. Internal validation was carried out, with a C-index of 0.774, and the Hosmer–Lemeshow test indicated a good fit (p = 0.92). The calibration plot also shows that this nomogram model has good calibration abilities. The decision curve analysis (DCA) results show a threshold probability range of 10–95%. Conclusion: A nomogram has been developed with good validity, calibration, and clinical utility, including self-care and self-efficacy as risk factors for predicting ischemic stroke.