Hemodialysis; psychosocial stressors in patients undergoing

ABSTRACT

To determine the nature and frequency of psychosocial stressors faced by the patients on hemodialysis admitted in Renal Dialysis Unit of Nishtar Hospital, Multan. A descriptive study. The study was conducted in the Renal Dialysis Unit of Nishtar Hospital, Multan, from 1[st] May, 2014 to 31[st] May, 2014. The sample consisted of 170 [112 Male, 58 Females] consecutive inpatients on Hemodialysis Treatment. They were interviewed and Hemodialysis Stressors Scale [HSS] was administrated to know the frequency of Hemodialysis Stressors. Results showed that all the patients reported Physiological and Psychosocial stressors. Most frequent physical stressors included feeling tired [92%] and stiffening of joints [91%]. In psychosocial stressors restriction of fluid [100%], dependence on dialysis machine and/ or equipment [95%], limitation of physical activity [93%], changes in family responsibilities [93%], dependency on nurses and technicians [93%], length of treatment [92%], dependency on physicians [91%], sleep disturbance [90%] and limitation of food [93%] were the most frequently reported. We concluded that both physiological and psychosocial stressors were present in significant majority of patients