Factors influencing self-management behaviors of patients with hemodialysis

Improving the level of self-management is a useful way to cut down the incidence of mortality and complications and enhance quality of life. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential effects of positive and negative emotions on self-management behavior among persons undergoing hemodialysis. A descriptive study and secondary analysis was conducted using two surveys that were administered two years apart (2014, 2016). A total of 250 hemodialysis patients were included in the first survey and 75 participated in the two-year follow-up survey in 2016.Self-efficacy, serenity, and depression were measured at baseline, and self-management was assessed at the two-year follow-up. Baseline self-efficacy (r = .36, p = .002) and serenity (r = .32, p = .005) were positively associated with follow-up self-management behavior. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed baseline self-efficacy was a important predictor of self-management behaviors, explaining 10.7% of the variance (F = 5.14, p= .003). This study demonstrated the importance of maintaining a positive psychological state, particularly self-efficacy and serenity, while coping with a long-term chronic disease. Improving self-efficacy may increase self-management behavior of patients undergoing hemodialysis or potentially of patients with other chronic therapies or conditions.