Hopelessness and Quality of Life Levels in Hemodialysis Patients

Objective: Hemodialysis treatment causes psychosocial problems like restrictions on social life, hopelessness, role changes, sadness, depression, anxiety and uncertainty about the future. So this problems may threat the quality of life. The purpose of this study was to determine the hopelessness and quality of life of the hemodialysis patients and the effective factors. Methods: The sample of the study consisted of 320 hemodialysis patients from four hemodialysis centers in the province of Ankara. The data were collected by using Patient Information Form, Beck Hopelessness Scale and EQ-5D General Quality of Life Scale and EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale ( EQ-5D VAS) in 2016. Results: Mean scale score was 9.63 +/- 5.56 for Beck Hopelessness Scale, 0.57 +/- 0.32 for EQ-5D Index, and 57.0 +/- 22.20 for EQ-5D VAS. Most of the patient experienced physical, mental or social problems. The patients, who were widowed/divorced, were literate, and had another chronic disease, had higher Beck Hopelessness Scale mean score and lower EQ-5D VAS mean score. It was found that there was a positive correlation between Beck Hopelessness Scale scores and age, number of children, and treatment duration; and a negative correlation between EQ-5D VAS scores and age, number of children, and treatment duration. There was a negative correlation between Beck Hopelessness Scale scores and EQ-5D VAS scores. Conclusion: The patients who were divorced/widowed, were literate and had another chronic disorder experienced more hopelessness and had lower level of general health. Increasing age, number of children, and treatment duration increased hopelessness and decreased general health. The increased hopelessness level also had a negative effect on the level of health.