A Descriptive Study to Assess the Stressors, Level of Stress, and Coping Strategies of Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Background: Hemodialysis is a lifelong treatment that significantly and sometimes adversely affects patient’s physical, mental, and social well-being. Chronic kidney disease is a worldwide public health problem and now recognized as a common condition that is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and chronic renal failure. The incidence rates of end-stage renal disease have increased steadily and internationally. The United States has the highest incidence rate of end-stage renal disease rate (Parsian, 2007). Methods: The descriptive study was conducted at Madras Medical Mission Hospital dialysis unit Chennai. Sixty samples who fulfilled the sample selection criteria were selected using non-probability purposive sampling. The investigator used structure interview method to collect the data. Data were collected during the process of dialysis. The collected data were tabulated for analysis and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Regarding the overall level of stressors, the findings revealed that 35 (58.33%) had moderate level of stressors and 25 (41.67%) had severe level of stressors. The findings revealed that 37 (61.67%) had moderate level of stress, 20 (33.33%) had severe level of stress, and only 3 (5%) had mild level of stress among patient undergoing hemodialysis. Conclusion: The findings revealed that when stressors increases, stress also increases. When coping strategies increase, stressors decrease, indicated that when coping strategies increase, stress decreases.