Group intervention to improve quality of life in haemodialysis patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of group intervention on depression, self-efficacy and quality of life in haemodialysis patients.


BACKGROUND
Chronic renal failure and haemodialysis treatment is a long-term process; patients need to have an appropriate adaptive strategy to confront the stress stemming from the disease and subsequent haemodialysis treatment. The application of group intervention for haemodialysis patients has been limited.


METHODS
This study applied an experimental design methodology. Patients were selected at two haemodialysis units of major medical centres in northern Taiwan.


METHODS
Out of 60 original patients randomly assigned into experimental or control groups, 48 completed the study. Twenty patients in the experimental group received group psychosocial intervention. The therapy ran for two hours per week for two months. Twenty-eight patients in the comparison group received routine unit care and a self-care booklet. Instruments included the Strategies Used by People to Promote Health, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Short Form-36. Data were collected at pretest and one month following the therapy.


RESULTS
The findings demonstrated that self-care self-efficacy, depression and quality of life significantly improved statistically for patients in the therapy group, compared with patients in the comparison group.


CONCLUSIONS
The study indicated that group psychosocial intervention significantly reduced depression, improved self-care self-efficacy and quality of life in haemodialysis patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study was conducted with a group of outpatients, did not require expensive resources and was not time intensive, making it a viable therapy, clinically suitable for haemodialysis patients.
Lii
Yueh-Ching
YC
Mackey College of Nursing, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tsay
Shiow-Luan
SL
Wang
Tsae-Jyy
TJ
D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan