Effect of Educational Program based on Self-Efficacy Theory on Improvement of Mental Health in Hemodialysis Patients

Aim: Many patients with chronic renal failure are prone to depression and anxiety. A self-efficacy promotion-training program can be effective in these mental disorders. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of education based on self-efficacy theory on improvement of mental health in hemodialysis patients. Methods: This interventional study that conducted in 2016 on 70 hemodialysis patients (35 in experimental group, 35 in control group). The data collection instruments consisted of demographic questionnaire, self-efficacy (SUPPH) and researcher-made validated and relied questionnaire of mental health (6 questions). The data were collected in two steps: before and three months after the training intervention. The educational program was performed for the experimental group in two half-hour sessions. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS 16, Paired-test, Independent t-test, Chi-square and Mann-Whitney’s test at the significance level of α=0.05. Findings: The groups did not differ significantly regarding the mean of mental health before the study (p=0.56). However, three months after the intervention, the mean of self-care in the field of mental health in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: The research results showed that employing the educational program based on self-efficacy theory was positively effective as for promotion of self-care in the field of mental health in hemodialysis patients.