Effect of self care on quality of life in hemodialysis patients

The aim of this study was to assess whether the effect of self-care abilities on quality of life in chronic hemodialysis patients or not. The sample of the study was 162 chronic hemodialysis patients. Data was collected using face to face meeting techniques with patient description forms, Self-Care Ability Scale and Life Quality Index for dialysis patients. The t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation analyses were used for statistical evaluation of thedata. %56,8 of the patients enrolled to research were were male, and the average age of the patients was 58,08±12,93 years. It was found that the average of self-care ability score was rated as 102,78±18,81 and the total quality of life score was rated 90,52±16,92. There were significantly positively correlations between the total score of self-care ability and thetotal quality of life and its sub-scales' scores such ashealth, function, socia-economic status, psychological needs and beliefs and family. There was no statistically significant difference between women and men according to quality of life and self-care ability but increasing age was found decreasing the quality of life and self-care ability. According to this, the more the level of self-care ability increases, the more the quality of life andits sub-scalesincrease in hemodialysis patients. As a result, the increasing self-care ability is recommended to improve the life quality in chronic hemodialysis patients.