Perceived social support, anxiety, and self-care among patients receiving hemodialysis

Abstract

Background. Hemodialysis therapy requires patients to undergo major lifestyle changes. Patients with increased perceived social support and decreased anxiety are more likely to enhance self-care. Patients and Methods. A descriptive-correlational study design was used to analyze the baseline data of a group of hemodialysis patients (n = 140). Three instruments were used: the Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale (ESCA), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were completed. Results. Social support and anxiety are significant predictors of self-care after controlling for the effect of time on dialysis. Results indicated that patients who perceived higher levels of social support and lower levels of anxiety were more likely to have a higher level of self-care. Conclusions. Interventions to increase hemodialysis patients' perceived social support and decreased anxiety may contribute to an enhanced self-care ability and positive health outcome, and may subsequently improve self-care and the psychosocial adjustment to hemodialysis.