توانايي خود مراقبتي در بيماران همودياليزي

Self Care Ability of Hemodialysis Patients

Background & Objectives: Hemodialysis patients are faced with various physical and psychological stressful factors and consequently they are dependent on other ones in activities of daily living. They also have lower self care ability. As there is few study done on self care ability of hemodialysis patients in Iran, this research was conducted to determine this case as well as measuring relationship between self care ability and some demographic characters. Materials & Methods:This descriptive study has been conducted in therapeutic hospitals of Bonab, Maragheh and Miandoaab. The sample, consisted of 115 hemodialysis patients, had been selected by census. The data were collected by completing a two-part questionnaire including demographic and self care ability items. Results: The outcomes indicated that self care ability in 78.3% of dialysis patients was desirable. The most desirable self care ability in the patients was in "taking care of vessels" whereas the least was in nutrition field. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between self care ability and some demographic characters, such as age, gender, marriage, and employment statues. Conclusion: Findings of our study indicated that hemodialysis patients are not quite capable of taking care of themselves. So it is necessary to increase self care ability in this group of patients by providing accurate and durable instructions about dietary compliance and other side effects of hemodialysis treatment and educate them on ways to prevent them being affected.