The Relationship between Illness Perception and Self-Care Behaviors among Hemodialysis Patients

摘要

Objective: Illness perception and self-care behaviors can result in higher levels of health behavior among hemodialysispatients. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between illness perception and self-care behaviors amonghemodialysis patients who referred to the hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2017.Method: In this descriptive cross sectional study, 216 hemodialysis patients who referred to the hemodialysis wards ofthe hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were selected via convenience sampling. The study datawere collected using a demographic information form, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (9 items), and a 15-itemSelf-care Behavior of Hemodialysis Patients Questionnaire. Then, the data were analyzed using independent t test andone-way ANOVA. Also, significance level was set at P 0.05.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 30.15+6.65 years. Also, most of the participants were female (n =125, 58%). The results revealed a significant relationship between illness perception and self-care behaviors amonghemodialysis patients. A significant relationship was observed between the following items: daily weight control andperception of consequences (r = 0.200, p = 0.001), between contacting the physician at the time of shortness of breathand consequences (r = 0.209, p = 0.001), between weight control according to the physician’s order and consequences(r = 0.763, p = 0.001), and between adherence to fluids restriction and identity(r = 0.149, p 0.05).Conclusion: Considering the relationship between illness perception and self-care, beliefs as illness perception have tobe incorporated into self-care programs designed for hemodialysis patients so as to promote their self-care behaviors.These findings can be used for planning and implementing care for hemodialysis patients.