EFFECTS OF PEPLAU’S THEORY OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS ON STRESS OF HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS'

Hemodialysis patients are facing a lot of stressors such as problems related to
the treatment, pain, feeling of inadequacy and unrest, dietary limitation, fatigue and weakness. This
study aimed to determine the effect of Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations on stress of
hemodialysis patients'.
Materials and Methods: The clinical trial study was conducted on 66 patients with hemodialysis were
referred to the Urmia Taleghani University Hospital. The pre-test was taken, then the samples were
randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Data collection instrument consists of two parts
demographic characteristics and “21 questioned depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS21)".
Peplau’s nursing theory applied individually to the intervention group members. Then two weeks after
intervention, post-test was performed. Data was analyzed using Chi square test, independent t-test and
paired t-test statistics by SPSS statistical software, version 20.
Results: Results showed that the difference in overall mean stress scores between experimental and
control groups, before implementing the Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relationship was not significant
(p=0.217). But a significant difference was shown in mean scores of stress between two groups after
intervention (P>0.001).
Conclusion: Based on the results from this study, it can be concluded that correct use of Peplau’s theory
of interpersonal relations can lead to reducing hemodialysis patients' stress. Therefore, it is suggested,
patients' stress can be reduce with use of this low-cost model.