Self-Efficacy in Salt Consumption Among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Abstract

Salt consumption restriction has many advantages in patients on hemodialysis (HD), but it is also very challenging for them. Self-efficacy is a crucial aspect of successful disease management. Factors related to self-efficacy have been evaluated in many countries. However, the different demographic characteristics in Indonesia may show different significant results. Understanding this problem may contribute to the development of nursing interventions and the patients’ self-management ability while undergoing HD. Hence, the present study aimed to determine the factors associated with self-efficacy for restricting salt consumption among HD patients. Altogether, 98 HD patients participated in this cross-sectional study. The Self-efficacy for Restricting Dietary Sodium in Hemodialysis Scale questionnaire was completed to assess the patients’ self-efficacy. Linear regression was performed to evaluate the relationship between self-efficacy and patient characteristics. The participants’ mean age was 50.11 ± 1.29 years and the mean self-efficacy score was 73.56 ± 14.85. Mostly, participants were male (60.2%), married (82.7%), and had hypertension (85.7%). Age (p = 0.000; r = 0.384), HD duration (p = 0.004; r = −0.287), and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) (p = 0.008; r = −0.267) significantly correlated with self-efficacy for restricting salt consumption. These three variables determined 21% of the variance of self-efficacy among HD patients. The present study provides primary evidence that age, HD duration, and IDWG are associated with self-efficacy for restricting salt consumption among HD patients. Thus, nurses could develop innovative interventions to enhance the self-efficacy among patients with younger age, longer HD duration, and more IDWG.