Validation of The Fluid Intake Appraisal Inventory for patients on haemodialysis in Denmark

Background
Many haemodialysis patients have problems limiting their fluid intake, which might be influenced by their self-efficacy (SE). Thus interventions to improve patients’ SE could lead to an improvement in their managing of fluid allowance. The Fluid Intake Appraisal Inventory (FIAI) evaluates patients’ SE with regard to fluid intake. FIAI can be used as a screening instrument or as an evaluation tool.

Objectives
The aim of this study was to translate and validate the FIAI for use in Denmark.

Methods
Following the steps of forward and backward translation, the Swedish version of FIAI was translated into Danish and conceptual and semantic equivalence was established. Four patients completed the first version of the FIAI, evaluating the appropriateness and making suggestions for clarity. 227 patients on haemodialysis in Denmark tested FIAI in May 2015 enabling assessment of construct validity and internal consistency.

Results
Evaluation of the conceptual and semantic equivalence of FIAI revealed two concepts, which needed further clarification, (“myrekryb” (=cramping) and “fest” (=party). 225 patients from four dialysis centre (including four satellite units) completed the Danish FIAI. The Danish FIAI had high internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.97 for the total scale. The reliability of the scale was tested with Spearman’s rho and was -0.141 (p=0.05) for the total scale.

Conclusions
Primarily findings indicate that the Danish FIAI can be used in clinical practice as a screening instrument for SE and evaluation tool among adult haemodialysis patients with restricted fluid allowance but maybe in a revised version.