Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Beliefs about Dietary Compliance Scale (BDCS-T).
Methods: This methodological study enrolled a sample of 140 patients. Data were collected by using a questionnaire form, the BDCS-T, and the Dialysis Diet and Fluid Restrictions Nonadherence Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, the one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Mann-Whitney U test, correlation coefficients, and psychometric tests were used for the analysis of data.
Results: The factor analysis confirmed that the BDCS-T had a two-factor structure (perceived benefits and perceived barriers) explaining 58.7% of the total variance. The BDCS-T had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficients: perceived benefits = .91; perceived barriers = .66), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients: perceived benefits = .93; perceived barriers = .79), concurrent validity with the Dialysis Diet and Fluid Restrictions Nonadherence Questionnaire scores, and known group validity with intensity of diet nonadherence.
Conclusions: The BDCS-T was found to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing the beliefs related to salt-restricted diet in patients on hemodialysis.
Implications for practice: Nurses are recommended to make tailored interventions by taking the benefits and barriers that the patients perceive toward low-salt dietary adherence into account.
Keywords: Beliefs about Dietary Compliance Scale–English version; Beliefs about Dietary Compliance Scale–Turkish version; compliance; diet; hemodialysis; reliability; salt; validity.
© The Author(s) 2013.