Monitoring and blunting styles in fluid restriction consultation.

Excessive fluid overload is common in hemodialysis patients. Understanding fluid intake behavior in relation to used cognitive coping style would serve the fluid restriction consultation. The aim of this study was to explore whether hemodialysis patients' fluid intake behavior differs as a function of used coping style. Secondary analysis of data from 51 hemodialysis patients regarding cognitive coping style (assessed by the Threatening Medical Situations Inventory) and fluid intake behavior were used. The participants' mean age was 62.9 years (range 27-84), they had received dialysis treatment for 3.9 years on average (range 0-22), 63% were male and they had gained 3.6% (±1.3) of their dry body weight during the interdialytic period. There was a significant difference in fluid intake behavior between coping groups (F = 3.899, d.f. 2, P = 0.027). The difference (P = 0.028) was isolated between patients with cognitive blunting style and patients with neutral coping style. Identification of hemodialysis patients using cognitive avoidance strategies can be advantageous in renal care. Fluid advice provided may have to be adjusted to the used coping style, especially for patients with a blunting coping style. However, the findings need to be confirmed, and the effect of individualized counseling needs to be evaluated in forthcoming studies.