Objectives: Hemodialysis patients with diabetes are at high risk of developing specific
nutritional disorders; therefore nutritional care is important. To achieve this, it is necessary
to improve patients’ dietary self-management skills. Therefore, this study aimed to develop
a diet-related life skill assessment scale for dialysis patients with diabetes and to verify its
reliability and validity.
Method: A draft scale consisting of 59 items with 5 factors was developed based on the
World Health Organization health education model of life skills. Valid responses were
obtained from 211 dialysis patients with diabetes (168 males and 43 females). Data were
analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, a criterion-related validity study, and reliability
test.
Results: As a result of the exploratory factor analysis, 37 items were extracted from
the following seven factors: 1:“Dialogue to find the best diet for oneself,” 2:“Diet
planning based on one's own physical condition,” 3:“Self-analysis and self-adjustment
to diet therapy,” 4:“Trust and gratitude to those close to oneself,” 5:“Empathy for those
with the same disease,” 6:“Thoughts on basic dietary therapy for renal protection,”
and 7:“Preparedness to continue with the diet therapy.” The overall Cronbach’s alpha
coefficient was 0.93, and the cumulative contribution rate was 62.4%. This scale was
significantly correlated (p < 0.01) with the Diabetes-specific self-management skills scale (r
= .508) and the self-care scale for hemodialysis patients (r = .659). The scores of the group
aware of the benefits of diet in diabetes were significantly higher than those of the group
unaware of such benefits (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: The reliability and validity of the diet-related life skills assessment scale were
confirmed, and it was suggested that this scale be used to support dialysis patients with
diabetes in the self-management of their diet.