Prevalence and determinants of physical activity and fluid intake in kidney transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
Self-care for kidney transplantation is recommended to maintain kidney function. Little is known about levels of self-care practices and demographic, psychosocial, and health-related correlates.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate patients' self-reported exercise and fluid intake, demographic and psychosocial factors associated with these self-care practices, and health-related quality of life.


METHODS
Eighty-eight of 158 kidney recipients from two academic medical centers completed a semi-structured interview and surveys 2 months post-transplant.


RESULTS
Most patients were sedentary (76%) with a quarter exercising either regularly (11%) or not at current recommendations (13%). One-third (35%) reported drinking the recommended 3 L of fluid daily. Multivariate analyses indicated that private insurance, high self-efficacy, and better physical functioning were significantly associated with engaging in physical activity (p < 0.05); while male gender, private insurance, high self-efficacy, and not attributing oneself responsible for transplant success were significant predictors of adherence to fluid intake (p < 0.05). Despite the significance of these predictors, models for physical activity and fluid intake explained 10-15% of the overall variance in these behaviors. Multivariate analyses indicated that younger age, high value of exercise, and higher social functioning significantly (p < 0.05) predicted high self-efficacy for physical activity, while being married significantly (p < 0.05) predicted high self-efficacy for fluid intake.


CONCLUSIONS
Identifying patients at risk of inadequate self-care practice is essential for educating patients about the importance of self-care.
Gordon
Elisa J
EJ
Department of Surgery, Transplant Surgery Division, Institute for Healthcare Studies, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. e-gordon@northwestern.edu
Prohaska
Thomas R
TR
Gallant
Mary P
MP
Sehgal
Ashwini R
AR
Strogatz
David
D
Conti
David
D
Siminoff
Laura A
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult