KNOWLEDGE OF DISEASE AND DIETARY COMPLIANCE IN PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE RENAL-DISEASE

Noncompliance is a common problem in patients with end-stage renal dis ease. In this study, we assessed the relationship between knowledge of disease and dietary compliance in a cohort of 56 dialysis patients. B ased on a health belief model of adherence, we predicted that dialysis patients who knew more about kidney disease and its treatment would b e more compliant than those who knew less about these matters. We also examined the relationship between dietary compliance and patients' em otional well-being. We used a composite measure of compliance consisti ng of serum K, P, and interdialytic weight gain. A 30-item ''Kidney Di sease Questionnaire'' was used to assess patients' knowledge of their illness. Contrary to prediction, compliers did not score higher on the knowledge questionnaire; in fact, the observed correlation of .32 was in the opposite direction. In the same vein, we found no relationship between compliance and emotional well-being. These results, although somewhat surprising, add to a growing body of research which indicates that medical compliance involves more than educating patients about t he mechanisms and treatment of their illness.