Factors Associated with the Social Support of Hemodialysis Patients

BACKGROUND Support has been gradually acknowledged as a significant factor that exerts a positive influence on hemodialysis patients' lives as well as on the outcome of the disease. The purpose was to explore factors associated with social support of hemodialysis patients. METHODS The sample studied consisted of 258 patients undergoing hemodialysis in public hospitals in Athens, Greece during 2015. Data collection was performed by the method of the interview using a specially designed questionnaire, which included the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support for the assessment of social support from significant others, family and friends as well as patients' socio-demographic, clinical and other characteristics. RESULTS Of the 258 participants, 53.9% were male and 65% were over 60 yr. Regard to social support, patients felt highly supported by their significant others and their family (median 6 for both subscales) and less by their friends (median 4.5 neutral support levels). In terms of patients' characteristics, statistically significant association of support from significant others and family was observed with marital status (P<0.001 and P<0.001 respectively), place of residence (P<0.001 and P<0.001 respectively) and the number of children (P=0.002 and P=0.007 respectively). Furthermore, statistically significant association of support from friends was observed with age (P <0.001), marital status (P=0.002), and place of residence (P=0.017). CONCLUSION Socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and patients' perceptions are associated with perceived Social Support. Provision of holistic individualized care to hemodialysis patients demands assessment of social support in the daily clinical practice.