Health Beliefs Related to Salt-Restricted Diet in Patients on Hemodialysis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Beliefs about Dietary Compliance Scale (BDCS-T). This methodological study enrolled a sample of 140 patients. Data were collected by using a questionnaire form, the BDCS-T, and the Dialysis Diet and Fluid Restrictions Nonadherence Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, the one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Mann-Whitney U test, correlation coefficients, and psychometric tests were used for the analysis of data. The factor analysis confirmed that the BDCS-T had a two-factor structure (perceived benefits and perceived barriers) explaining 58.7% of the total variance. The BDCS-T had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficients: perceived benefits = .91; perceived barriers = .66), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients: perceived benefits = .93; perceived barriers = .79), concurrent validity with the Dialysis Diet and Fluid Restrictions Nonadherence Questionnaire scores, and known group validity with intensity of diet nonadherence. The BDCS-T was found to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing the beliefs related to salt-restricted diet in patients on hemodialysis. Nurses are recommended to make tailored interventions by taking the benefits and barriers that the patients perceive toward low-salt dietary adherence into account.