Abstract / Summary
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) requires rigorous, long-term adherence to complex therapeutic regimens, yet non-adherence remains a persistent challenge that threatens patient health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the influence of cultural beliefs on treatment adherence among CKD patients using Madeleine Leininger’s Transcultural Nursing Theory as the conceptual framework. A quantitative, descriptive correlational research design was employed with 74 CKD patients at Saint Mary Kidney Care in Tabuk, Kalinga. Data were gathered through standardized questionnaires focusing on four cultural domains—spirituality/religion, family roles, folk healing, and food beliefs—and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed very high levels of reported treatment adherence and a strong consensus regarding the very high importance of food beliefs and high importance of spirituality/religion in the healing process. Additionally, the study identified that ethnicity, religion, and the duration of dialysis significantly mediate how patients perceive and engage with their treatment plans. Clinical adherence is deeply embedded in the patient’s cultural lifeworld rather than being solely a matter of biomedical compliance. The study recommends that healthcare institutions transition toward a culturally congruent renal care program that prioritizes cultural care preservation, accommodation, and strategic repatterning to foster sustainable, family-centric outcomes.