Evidence That Self-Affirmation Improves Phosphate Control in Hemodialysis Patients: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. Issue 2 (15th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wileman, Vari; Farrington, Ken; Chilcot, Joseph; Norton, Sam; Wellsted, David M.; Almond, Michael K.; Davenport, Andrew; Franklin, Gail; Gane, Maria Da Silva; Armitage, Christopher J.
• Is Part Of: Annals of behavioral medicine. Volume 48:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 275
• Page End: 281
• Publication Date: 2014-02-15
• Subjects: Adherence -- Phosphate -- Self-affirmation -- Behaviour intervention -- Dialysis; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Sick -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Behavioral Medicine; 616.0019
• DOI: 10.1007/s12160-014-9597-8
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-6612

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Hemodialysis patients are at risk of serious health complications, yet treatment non-adherence remains high. Purpose: Warnings about health risks associated with non-adherence may trigger defensive reactions. We studied whether an intervention based on self-affirmation theory (Steele 1988) reduced patients' resistance to health-risk information and improved adherence. Methods: One hundred twelve patients either self-affirmed or completed a matched control task before reading about the risks associated with a lack of phosphate control. Serum phosphate was collected from baseline up to 12 months. Results: Self-affirmed patients had significantly reduced serum phosphate levels at 1 and 12 months. However, contrary to the predictions derived from self-affirmation theory, self-affirmed participants and controls did not differ in their evaluation of the health-risk information, behavioural intention or self-efficacy. Conclusions: A low-cost, high-reach health intervention based on self-affirmation theory was shown to reduce serum phosphate over a 12 month period. Further work is required to identify mediators of the observed effects.