Self-Care and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Elderly Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease is a health problem that affects increasing more people. Currently, one of the therapeutic measures to treat it is hemodialysis, an invasive method involving physical and psychological changes in the patient; therefore, it is important to know about their self-care and such effects on their quality of life.

Objective: To describe the relationship between self-care practices and quality of life in hemodialysis elderly patients.

Methods: A descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted at Centro de Hemodialysis SERMEDIAL, in Peru, in 2022. The population consisted of 65 patients. The interview technique was used. The Kidney Disease Quality of Life 36-item short form survey (KDQOL-36) scale was used as an instrument for assessing quality of life. Self-care was measured using Michón's Self-Care Practices Guide for Renal Patients. Pearson's chi-squared test and the contingency coefficient were applied.

Results: 100 % of the hemodialyzed adults who reported good self-care practices had a good quality of life. Concerning poor self-care practices, 84.60 % had poor quality of life. The chi-squared statistical test showed that this relationship was significant (p ≤ 0.01), with strength of association being 0.722.

Conclusions: There is a direct relationship between self-care practices and quality of life in hemodialysis elderly patients at Centro de Hemodialysis SERMEDIAL (Peru, 2022).