Factors affecting exercise self-efficacy in non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) places a continuous burden on public health worldwide, partially attributable to a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise self-efficacy has emerged as a priority for improving physical activity. Here we conduct a survey to determine exercise self-efficacy and factors associated with lower exercise self-efficacy in non-dialysis patients with CKD. Methods A single-center cross-sectional study was performed from October 2018 to April 2019 using the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES) to assess exercise self-efficacy. In addition to socio-demographic data, Leicester Uremic Symptom Score (LUSS) was used to evaluated symptom burden for non-dialysis CKD patients. Multiple linear regression was carried out to identify factors that were significantly associated with exercise self-efficacy. Results One hundred and thirty-seven patients participated in the current study. The median score on the ESES was 48.89 (interquartile range: 33.31–64.72). A significantly negative correlation with ESES and symptom burden was observed. The results of multiple linear regression showed a significantly positive association between exercise self-efficacy and higher average monthly income, higher level of daily physical activity. Conclusion The study reveals several important variables that can be taken into consideration when dealing with exercise self-efficacy in non-dialysis CKD patients. our findings reinforce the need to educate patients who are elderly, female, underweight, lower-income, physical inactivity, and higher symptom burden to promote their exercise self-efficacy.