The purpose of this study was to explor the difference between self-efficacy o f treadmill performance and actual treadmill performance in patients of chroni c obstructive pulmonary disease. Factors, which influence the self-efficacy an d actual performance, were examined also. Forty-eight subjects who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)and met the selection criteria were sel ected from four taipei medium size hospitals by purposive sampling.A explored- correlated design was used. Data was collect by exercise testing and structure questionaire, which include Information Source of Self-Efficacy Scale, State - Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Treadmill Self-Efficacy Scale. Discriminatey an alysis, stepwise regression, person correlation coefficient, pair t-test, and one way ANOVA was used for data analysis. Based on the result of exercise test ing, it was found that the subject''s physical condition was extremely poor. Th e average maximal functional capacity was 2.94 METs. The majority of patients (35 subjec or72.9%) under-estimated their treadmill performaing and only 7 sub jects (14.6%) assessed accurately. Dyspnea was the most commom stop reason dur ing the exercise testing. A significant correlation between self-efficacy of treadmill performance and past experiences, level of dyspnea, FEV1 %pred, FVC %pred, and FEV1/FVC% was observed. However, the patient''s past experience was the most important predictor, which explained 35% of variance. Verbal persuasi on, vicarious experience, and anxiety were not signifintly correlated with sel f-efficacy of treadmill performance. There was a significant relationship betw een treadmill self-efficacy and maximal functional capacity. However, past exp eriences, resting heart rate , and FEV1/FVC % were the significant predictor i n determining maximal functional capacity. Also the patient''s past experience explained 39% of the variance and was the most important predictor in maximal functional capacity.The findings of this study have implications in facilitati ng physical, psycholical, and social integration of COPD patients. An assessme nt of self-efficacy of treadmill performance and maximal functional capacity s eems imperative in the development of individualized nursing interventions to help COPD patients obtain the optimum health status.