The association of illness perception and related factors with treatment adherence among chronic hemodialysis patients with cardio-renal syndrome in Yemen

Adel Laradhi ¹ Shan Yan ^1* abdazizi mansoor ² Nahed Hussien ³ Eman Ragab ³ mohamed Allawy ³

• ¹ Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
• ² Seiyun Community College, Hadhramout, Yemen
• ³ Suez Canal University, Ismaïlia, Ismailia, Egypt

Background: Patients' illness perceptions are cognitive representations or beliefs structured around their condition. These perceptions have been associated with several important outcomes, including functional recovery and treatment adherence.The aim of this study is to investigate the association between illness perception and related factors with treatment adherence among hemodialysis patients with cardiorenal syndrome in Yemen.This cross-sectional study was conducted at two dialysis centers in Hadhramout Governorate, Yemen from February to May 2021. Three self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0 with a significance level set at p < 0.05.One hundred patients answered all questions with a total response rate of 100%. The mean age ± standard deviation of participants was 53.46 ± 14.24 years. Most patients (87%) had a low level of treatment adherence, particularly in medication and diet restriction adherence. Also, most patients (90%) had a moderate-to-high level of threatening illness perception. The findings revealed no significant correlation between overall illness perception and overall treatment adherence (r = 0.003, p = 0.975). However, the subscales measuring illness perception, perceived consequences (r = -0.210, P<0.05), and perceived timeline (r = -0.276, P<0.01) showed a negative correlation with total treatment adherence. Additional findings revealed a significant positive link between adherence and cardiac disorders (β=4.292, p=0.009), as well as a strong correlation between adherence and income level (β=11.132, p<.001).Conclusions: Our research found that most patients with cardio-renal syndrome had poor treatment adherence and had a moderate to high level of threatening illness perception. The results of the study showed that perceived consequences and perceived timeline subscales of illness perceptions had a negative correlation with overall treatment adherence, and findings revealed a significant positive link between adherence and cardiac disorders, as well as a strong correlation between adherence and income level. The findings suggest that nurses and clinicians should assess those illness perceptions specific to patients with cardio-renal syndrome disease when developing multidisciplinary interventions to help patients cope with and manage different aspects of their condition.