ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the role of family to the compliance of patient role behavior in long-term hemodialysis patients. METHODS: In this descriptive correlational design, 103 participants recruited from 3 hemodialysis clinics at D city. They completed the self-reported questionnaire including family characteristics, family support, family function, and compliance of patient role behavior. All participants have family and are undergoing regular hemodialysis more than 1 year. RESULTS: Among patient's characteristics, compliance of patient role behavior was significantly different by standard of living, burden of treatment, marital status, experience of hospitalization, perceived health status, kidney transplantation plan, and depression. Experience of hospitalization, perceived health status and family support explained 31.9% of the variance in the compliance of patient role behavior (R2=.319, F=5.34, p=.001). CONCLUSION: Family support is important for compliance of patient role behavior in the long-term hemodialysis patients. Therefore it is recommended that the family must be included to improve compliance of patient role behaviors.