Hope in caregivers and hemodialysis patients

In chronic disease, hope is an important and multidimensional coping mechanism. Hopelessness and depression is a common consequence in chronic renal failure patients. Because of high incidence of social and mental disorders in these patients and their caregivers, the aim of this study was to determine the hope of hemodialysis patients and their caregivers.

In this comparison – descriptive, cross-sectional study, patients and their caregivers were selected through convenience sampling method. For data gathering, we used Herth Hope Index. For data analysis, statistical tests such as Chi-square, independent t-test were performed using SPSS v17.

62 patients and 63 caregivers were included into the study. The mean of hope in two groups had no significant differences. 17.7% Patients and 1.6% caregivers had moderate hope and 3.2% of patients were at high levels of hope, but none of the caregivers had high level of hope. Differences between two groups in the levels of hope (classified hope) was significant (p=0.001).

Findings show that caregivers had lower level of hope than their patients and this represents a high stress and possibly depression in caregivers as a result of the disease in one of their family members. Our results underline the need for protection and rehabilitation programs in addition to treatment for patients with chronic diseases and their caregivers.