The effect of self-care training on death anxiety in hemodialysis patients: A randomized clinical trial

Death anxiety as a common problem in hemodialysis patients affects their quality of life and mortality. The effect of self-care training on death anxiety in hemodialysis patients is not well-documented.

This study aims to determine the effect of self-care training on death anxiety in hemodialysis patients.

Fifty hemodialysis patients were purposefully selected and allocated to two study groups equally using the random minimization method. For the intervention group and one of their family members, who had the most role in patient care, the self-care training was implemented in three at least one-hour sessions during two weeks. The data were collected using the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (DAS). Analysis was done by SPSS version 22, using Shapiro-Wilk, Chi-square, Fisher Exact, independent-t test, and paired-t tests, at a 95% confidence level.

The DAS score of the study groups were the same at baseline. In intervention group the mean ± SD of the DAS score decrease from 8.04 ± 2.35 at baseline to 5.28 ± 1.65 at after the intervention (P = 0.001). In control group the mean ± SD of the DAS score was 8.04 ± 2.42 at the baseline and reached to 8.28 2.42 in after intervention phase (P = 0.228). In intergroup comparison, the mean ± SD of DAS score in the intervention group decreased significantly compared to the control group at the after intervention (P = 0.001).

The self-care training may have a positive effect in management of the death anxiety in hemodialysis patients. The importance of self-care in managing the death anxiety of hemodialysis patients and preventing its negative consequences seems to be attributed to the health care team's emphasis on it.