ASSESSING ADHERENCE TO DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS - THE RENAL-ADHERENCE-ATTITUDES-QUESTIONNAIRE (RAAQ) AND THE RENAL-ADHERENCE-BEHAVIOR-QUESTIONNAIRE (RABQ)

This article describes preliminary investigations into the psychometri c properties of two scales for hemodialysis patients (N=35): the Renal Adherence Attitudes Questionnaire (RAAQ), a 26-item scale measuring a ttitudes toward adherence; and the Renal Adherence Behaviour Questionn aire (RABQ), a 25-item scale measuring self-reported dietary (diet and fluid) adherence. Factor analysis of the RAAQ yielded a four-factor s tructure. These factors were attitudes to social restrictions, well-be ing, self-care/support, and acceptance. The scale demonstrated high in ternal and test-retest reliability. Factor analysis of the RABQ gave a five-factor structure: adherence to fluid restrictions; adherence reg arding potassium and phosphate restrictions, adherence regarding self- care; adherence regarding sodium intake; and adherence in times of par ticular difficulty, This scale had moderately high internal reliabilit y and high test-retest reliability. Validity for the RABQ was tested w ith independent measures of adherence; biochemical (serum potassium, s erum phosphate, and interdialytic weight gain) and dietician-rated (po tassium and fluid). There was little association among the differing m easures of adherence. These scales facilitate empirical evaluation of dietary adherence for hemodialysis patients. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.