The impact of sense of coherence on the quality of life of ill patients on hemodialysis

Abstract

The holistic approach to the patient attach a greatimportance to the quality of life. Awareness of the disease and the need of constant treatment significantly affect the perception of life satisfaction in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Sense of coherence (SOC) has a significant impact on adjusting to the new situation — the disease, and helps to maintain or return to optimal health.The aim of the work was to determine the effect of sense of coherence on the quality of life of the patients on hemodialysis, as the exponent in maintaining optimal health. The research was conducted among 83 patients suffering from chronic kidney disease treated with hemodialysis. The surveys were carried out in the Department of Nephrology and Internal Medicine with Dialysis Unit in the Specialist Hospital in Piła. The sense of coherence was assessed using the Life Orientation Questionnaire SOC-29 by Antonovsky, and the quality of life was valued with the help of WHO-QOL-Bref questionnaire. The study group attained an average level of the sense of coherence. The quality of life results were comparable with the outcomes gained by healthy people. The higher the sense of coherence, the higher the quality of life in hemodialysis patients was. Received results may have an influence on the high level of understanding and acceptance of the illness in the case of patients who undergo dialysis treatment. Determination of the influence ofthe level of coherence on the quality of life may have an impact on the therapy and may be useful when it comes to predicting and planning the medical care.