The effect of home care on symptomatic relief and quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis according to neuman system model

Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the effect of home care on physical and psychological symptomatic relief and quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis according to Neuman System Model. Material and Method: The study was conducted as a preliminary test-post-test randomized controlled study model. The population of the study consisted of 290 all of the adult patients residing in the city center of Malatya, and receiving treatment in the hemodialysis units of Inönü University Turgut Özal Medical Center, Private Dialysis Center and Malatya State Hospital. The sample consisted of 160 patients at significance level of 0.05, the effect size of 0.6, and the population representation power of 0.97 as a result of power analysis. The patients were randomly assigned as 80 in the experimental group and 80 in the control groups. The nursing care, which was prepared by the researcher according to Neuman System Model, was applied to the patients in the experimental group at their homes three times every two weeks. The data were collected by the researcher at face-to-face interviews in the patients' homes and the nursing care provided was 30-60 min. Number, percentage, chi square, and dependent samples t test, and independent samples t test were used to analyze the data. Results: It was found that total mean score of DSI was 28.52±17.67, quality of life scale physical health score mean was 53.35±11.91, mental health score mean was 50.10±9.59 in the experimental group; the mean score of the dialysis symptom index of the control group was 59.78±19.07, physical health mean score was 37.05±9.68, mental health score mean was 35.42±11.47. The symptom level of the patients in the experimental group decreased and the quality of life increased after the intervention and a statistically significant difference was found among the posttest mean scores. Conclusion: The care provided to the patients receiving hemodialysis treatment according to the Neuman System Model decreased the symptoms experienced by the patients and enhanced their quality of life. Key words: Hemodialysis, Neuman System Model, Dialysis symptom, Quality of Life, Nursing