Self-sufficiency and perception of social support in patients undergoing hemodialysis

Self-Sufficiency And Perception Of Social Support In Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis Introduction and Aim:Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is anincreasingly significant health problem around the world leading to reduced quality of life in the patients.Over the recent years, two principal goals have been defined for the treatment of CKD: first, to increase the survival of the patients; second, to improve the quality of life of the patients. The aim of this study was to investigate self-sufficiency and perception of social support in the KD patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) by comparing the patients with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: The retrospective study included a group of 51 patients that were receiving HD at Dicle University Medical School Hospital and a control group of 102 healthy individuals. Data collection was achieved using a questionnaire probing sociodemographic features of the participants, the generalized Self-Sufficiency Matrix (SSM), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The survey was administered through face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24,0 for windows. A p value of <0,05 was considered significant. Results:TheSSM scores were significantly higher in the control group than in the HD group (p<0.05). The MSPSS scores of the control group in the Friends and Significant Others subscales were significantly higher than those in the HD group (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was found between the two groups with regards to the Family subscale of MSPSS. In the HD group, the SSM scores were lower in old-age patients, those who were divorced or widowed, and those with a chronic disease besides CKD (p<0.05) andthe MSPSS scores in the Family subscale were significantly lower in the patients that were not living with a first-degree relative (p<0.05).However, no significant difference was found among the patients with regards to the MSPSS scores in the Family and Significant Others subscales (p>0.05). Conclusion: Both the SSM and MSPSS scores were significantly lower in the HD group compared to the control group. Accordingly, a number of measurescould be helpful such as raising awareness among healthcare professionals regarding these low scores, organizing informative seminars about CKD both for HD patients and their relatives, providing psychological counseling for the patients, and promoting social activities for the patients such as hobbies, trips, and group communications. Key words: End-stage kidney disease, hemodialysis, self-sufficiency, social support