Positivity scale for type-2 diabetes patients with renal failure

[Abstract] [Purpose]: The objectives of the present survey were set as follows : 1. To prepare a positivity scale for type-2 diabetic renal failure patients for the psychological construct of “Belated conviction of having worked hard to take care of oneself " medical-care perception, which was a result reached inductively in the previous study. 2. To elucidate the relationships of the position on the positivity scale with QOL and duration of diabetic nephropathy treatment for type-2 diabetic renal failure patients. [Methods] : An interview- and questionnaire-based survey was carried out with 70 type-2 diabetes patients with renal failure. The answers to questions about 12 items relating to the psychological construct of the “I will overcome my regrets" medical-care perception were evaluated by factor analysis. The validity of the scale was tested using the GSES scale, and the correlation coefficient. With respect to the characteristics of the positivity scale, QOL is determined using the KDQOL-SF(TM) 1.3 scale, and its correlation with duration of diabetic nephropathy treatment is obtained using the correlation coefficient. [Results] : The outcome was that the three parameters that made up the scale in this research were factors, and were the same as the items in the previous qualitative research. Reliability was confirmed on the basis of the internal consistency of the three parameters. The concurrent validity was confirmed on the basis of significant correlation between the GSES scale and the positivity scale. Both the positivity scale and quality of life (QOL) showed significant positive correlations with the following parameters in the KDQOL-SFTM1.3 scale : social functioning, emotional wellbeing, general health perception, burden of kidney disease, and sleep. [Discussion] : The ability to hold the “Belated conviction of having worked hard to take care of oneself " medical-care perception resulted in favorable QOL after introduction of dialysis. In addition, for high-level medical-care perception, it is necessary to recognize the condition as diabetic nephropathy, and to undergo treatment, for a significant period.