A COMPARISON OF ATTRIBUTIONS, HEALTH BELIEFS, AND NEGATIVE EMOTIONS AS PREDICTORS OF FLUID ADHERENCE IN RENAL DIALYSIS PATIENTS - A PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Excessive fluid intake in hemodialysis patients can lead to serious ca rdiovascular complications. However previous studies have nor investig ated factors that affect fluid adherence over time. The influence of t hree sets of factors-attributions, health beliefs, and negative emotio ns-was examined to determine their influence on changes in fluid adher ence over time. We assessed patient's fluid-intake changes across two time periods, as well as their absolute level. The results indicated t hat attributions while predicting absolute fluid adherence, did not pr edict changes in fluid adherence. On the other hand, health beliefs pr edicted changes in fluid adherence but not absolute levels. Negative e motions predicted neither absolute nor changes in fluid adherence. It is suggested that attributions are more responsible for maintenance an d control of stable fluid adherence levels, awhile health beliefs are more responsible for motivational factors related to changes in fluid adherence over time.