ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the correlations between social support and self efficacy of young and middle-aged patients with peritoneal dialysis. Method The status of social support and self-efficacy of 97 young and middle-aged patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis were investigated and the correlation were analyzed. Results The score on social was (28.0 ± 6.4), lower than the norm (P < 0.01). The score on self-efficacy was (2.38 ± 0.62). The level of confidence was lower in 28 cases (28.9%), high in 58 cases (59.8%), very high in 11 cases (11.3%). The self-efficacy was positively correlated with social support, subjective support and support utilization (all P<0.05). Conclusions The levels of social support and self-efficacy are lower than the norm in young and middle-aged patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. The self-efficacy is positively correlated with social support including subjective support and support utilization, which indicates that improved social support is effective for the improvement of self-efficacy by providing patients with family and social support.