The perceived supports for self-care in hemodialysis patients: a qualitative study

Background and Objective: Following the self-care behaviors is considered as one of the fundamental factors of treatment in hemodialysis patients. Patients’ perception of support will control their mental tensions and cause them to follow the self-care behaviors, and then it will promote their general health. The main purpose of the current study was “identification of the perceived supports for self-care in hemodialysis patients”. Materials and Methods: this study was conducted on the base of content analysis conventional. The study participants were 9 patients, 3 families having hemodialysis patients, and 2 nurses working in dialysis section. We made use of purposive sampling and continued gathering the data till we reached data saturation point. Besides, the data gathering procedure was conducted through semi-structured interviews. Finally, the data was analyzed through content analysis. Results: The present study’s findings included a main category of perceived support and three subcategories of constructive support, destructive support, and individual’s feeling of the provided support; and all of these conditions indicated nature and dimensions of the role of perceived support in hemodialysis patients’ self-care. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that hemodialysis patients can use the support provided during the illness, including constructive support, destructive support, and one's sense of support to enhance self-care behaviors and improve their quality of life. Therefore, nurses, physicians, and families Hemodialysis patients should pay more attention to patient support.