Factors linked to self-care behavior identified for chronic kidney disease patients

For patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), promoting adequate self-care necessitates identification of each patient’s barriers and needs based on individual characteristics including age, cohabitation, and employment status, according to a study published online Oct. 13 in PLOS ONE.

Jung-Won Ahn, Ph.D., from Gangneung-Wonju National University in Korea, and colleagues analyzed data for 278 participants to evaluate general and medical condition-related characteristics, physiological indices, and the level of health literacy affecting self-care behavior in patients with CKD in South Korea.

The researchers found that self-care behavior scores differed significantly depending on participant age and cohabitation status, employment, and smoking status, as well as use of dialysis for end-stage kidney disease; levels of serum hemoglobin, calcium, and creatinine; and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Not currently working, nonsmoker, end-stage kidney disease, and positive response to the “actively managing my health” scale of the Health Literacy Questionnaire significantly affected self-care behavior in a regression analysis, with an explanatory power of 32.7 percent.

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