A Study on Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

This study is a descriptive correlation study designed to provide basic data necessary for improving quality of life by conducting a study on quality of life in relation to hemodialysis patients. Data collection was executed by using a structured questionnaire in order to evaluate quality of life among 112 hemodialysis patients. As research instruments, Cha's(2013) Herth Hope Index(HHI) was used to measure hope, So's(1992) Self-as-Carer Inventory to measure self-care agency, and Satisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS) developed by Diener, Emmons, Larsen, and Griffin(1985) to measure quality of life. For the collected data, frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation, t-test, one-way ANO VA, and Duncan's Multiple Range test as posteriori test were analyzed by using SPSS. With respect to quality of life depending on general characteristics, there was a statistically significant difference in monthly income(F=9.16, p<.001) and type of medical security (F=7,52, p=.007). Hope was positively related to self-care agency (r=.28, p<.001) and quality of life (r=.41, p<.001), but quality of life was not correlated with self-care agency(r=.13, p=.167). Accordingly, it is necessary to develop nursing intervention methods to improve hope in order to increase quality of life in hemodialysis patients, in other words, the one to improve self-care agency correlated with hope.