Comparison of Marital Satisfaction in Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Alternative kidney treatments, including renal transplantation, hemodialysis (HD), and peritoneal dialysis (PD), are administered when severe kidney failure occurs and the kidney can no longer function. The present study compares different dimensions of marital satisfaction in HD and PD patients so as to assist physicians and patients in choosing their appropriate treatment. This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was performed on 77 hemodialysis and 46 peritoneal dialysis patients who had referred to the Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, and Nephrology wards of Imam Reza Hospital and Ghaem Hospital, Tehran, in 2018. Marital satisfaction was significantly different between HD and PD patients, with the latter displaying a greater score in this regard (p <0.05). PD patients also enjoyed a higher level of satisfaction with personality issues, communication, conflict resolution, leisure activities, sexual relationships, children and parenting, and religious orientation (p <0.05).  However, satisfaction with financial management and family and friends made no significant difference between HD and PD patients (p> 0.05).  Other results suggested that gender, education level, age, number of children, disease onset, type of delivery, and urinary tract infection do not have a significant impact on marital satisfaction (p> 0.05), but diabetes, hypertension, occupational status, and income level significantly affect this variable (p <0.05). This study provided evidence that PD patients, compared with HD patients, experience a higher satisfaction with marital life, especially in terms of personality issues, communication, conflict resolution, leisure activities, sexual relationships, children and parenting, and religious orientation