EVALUATION OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING HEMODIALYSIS AND ITS RELATION TO TREATMENT ADHERENCE AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN WEST AZERBAIJAN PROVINCE, 2016

Adherences to treatment recommendations has got a key role in the treatment of
hemodialysis patients. Poor adherence will result in more severe clinical consequences in the mentioned
patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived social support,
adherence to treatment and clinical outcomes in hemodialysis patients.
Materials & Methods: In this study, 255 hemodialysis patients who referred to the hemodialysis centers
in 4 cities of West Azerbaijan province were selected by purposive sampling. The data collected through
a questionnaire consisting of three parts: demographic and clinical variables, adherence in hemodialysis
patients and social support questionnaire. Clinical outcomes (calcium, phosphorus, urea, creatinine,
Intradialytic weight gain, etc.) of the patient were recorded. To analyze the data, descriptive and
correlation statistics were used.
Results: The results showed that there is a significant relationship between perceived social support and
adherence to diet restrictions, adherence to fluid restriction and adherence to medical prescriptions
(p<0/001). Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between perceived social supports with
serum phosphorus, serum calcium and dialysis sessions weight gain (p<0/001).
Conclusion: Hemodialysis patients are in a situation which affects their relationships with other people.
Thus, nurses and other health care staff should adopt strategies to increase communication with such
patients, and be helpful in compliance with the treatment regimen