Psychosocial correlates of fluid compliance among Chinese haemodialysis patients.

AIMS

The present study was designed to determine the psychosocial correlates of fluid compliance among patients receiving haemodialysis at two Hong Kong renal dialysis centres.

BACKGROUND

There has been little consistency in the findings of correlations among any psychosocial variables and compliance behaviour. There is a need to further study these variables in an attempt to predict haemodialysis patient compliance to fluid restriction.

METHODS

Ninety-two Chinese haemodialysis patients completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Form C Scale (MHLC), the Social Support Questionnaire, Short Form Scale (SSQ6) and a self-designed socio-demographic questionnaire. Daily interdialytic weight gain (DIWG) measure was used as an indicator of fluid compliance.

RESULTS

The prevalence of compliance behaviour of Chinese haemodialysis patients was higher than that reported in western studies. There were significant negative correlations found between DIWG and total score on internal health locus of control and social support satisfaction score. However, internal health locus of control did not predict a significant portion of the DIWG variance. Significant predictors of DIWG included satisfaction with social support, comorbidity and monthly family income. Satisfaction with social support was the largest predictor of DIWG.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings suggest that assessing family income, comorbidity, and satisfaction with social support may be useful in identifying haemodialysis patients potentially at risk for difficulties in compliance with fluid restriction.