HOPELESSNESS IN PATIENTS RECEIVING HEMODIALYSIS TREATMENT IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A DESCRIPTIVE AND CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Authors : Zeynep Pehlivan Köksal, Vacide Aşık Özdemir

Pages : 173-186

Doi:10.47115/jshs.1349153

View : 48 | Download : 56

Publication Date : 2024-04-29

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: This study was conducted to reveal the hopelessness level of the patients receiving hemodialysis treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors affecting it. Method: This study was conducted with patients receiving HD treatment in dialysis centers affiliated with three hospitals in a province in Northeast Turkey between January and April 2022. The universe of the research is all patients who are treated in the dialysis units of the mentioned hospitals (N=147). The study was completed with 110 patients who met the inclusion criteria and volunteered to participate in the study. The data of the study were collected with the “Descriptive Information Form”, “Charlson Comorbidity Index” and “Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS)”. Results: 58.2% of the patients with a mean age of 63.30±15.33 were male, and 80.0% were married. 50.9% of them were diagnosed with COVID-19, 56.4% perceived themselves in the risk group for COVID-19, and 30.0% stated that COVID-19 causes hopelessness in their daily life. The mean total score was 7.87±5.38 for the BHS and 5.34±2.35 for the Charlson Comorbidity Index. There was a significant positive correlation between BHS total score and age (p<0.05). The mean BHS total score of the patients who were not diagnosed with COVID-19 was significantly higher than the than those diagnosed (p<0.05). Conclusion and Recommendations: One-third of the hemodialysis patients experienced hopelessness during the pandemic period, their hopelessness level was moderate, the level of hopelessness increased as age increased, and the hopelessness level of those who were not diagnosed with COVID-19 was higher. In this context, early diagnosis, follow-up, treatment and management of hopelessness by healthcare professionals is important in preventing irreversible errors in patients.
Keywords : Pandemi, COVID 19, Hemodiyaliz, Umutsuzluk