Factors related to dietary compliance in African-Americans with end-stage renal diseas

This study was designed to investigate the relationships of selected factors: biochemical parameters, sociodemographic factors, housing arrangements, economic status, mobility, hardiness, diet satisfaction, and the self-management approach to dietary adherence/compliance in African Americans (AA) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).;Sixty-five AA adults (32 females and 33 males) were chosen to participate in this study. Subjects were recruited from the patients admitted to the outpatient clinic and dialyzed in the Renal Dialysis Unit at Howard University Hospital (HUH). Data collected included sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, educational level, ethnicity, mode of transportation to and from the supermarket, income, and marital status. The Response to Illness Questionnaire (RIQ) was used to assess the subjects's feelings about his/her illness. A Dietary Satisfaction Questionnaire (DSQ) was used to assess dietary satisfaction and psychosocial characteristics. The Health-Related Hardiness Scale (HRHS) measured hardiness. Hardiness refers to individuals who have adaptive behavior and possess a different type of personality style known as "hardiness".;Major findings indicated that the overall rate of compliance of the participants in this study was poor (47.7%). However, this prevalence was higher than the predicted rate (less than 20%) of compliance.;Two relationships were found to exist between compliance with the dietary calorie prescription and the biochemical variables (uric acid and iron). Uric acid levels were significantly lower than those of the non-compliers (P = 0.034). Iron levels were significantly higher in the non-compliers and lower in the compliers, (P = 0.011).;Two relationships were found to exist between compliance with the dietary sodium prescription and the biochemical variables (carbon dioxide (CO 2) and cholesterol). Carbon dioxide levels were significantly lower in the subjects who were compliant with the sodium prescription than those subjects who were non-compliant (P = 0.0425).;A positive relationship was found for the subconcept (challenge) of the Health Related "hardiness" personality style characteristic. Challenge was slightly higher in the non- compliers with the calorie prescription than in the compliers (P = 0.05).;In conclusion, results indicate that significant relationships existed among sociodemographic factors, the renal diet prescription, the biochemical parameters, Response to Illness, the Self-Management approach (SMQ), and the Health-Related "hardiness" personality style characteristics (control, commitment, and challenge). (Abstract shortened by UMI.).