The Relationship between Nurses’ Caring Behaviors and Patient Characteristics with Adherence to Hemodialysis Therapy Management in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients

Objective: Hemodialysis therapy management consists of four main aspects; hemodialysis program, medication, fluid restriction, and diet. One of important factors in patients’ adherence to hemodialysis therapy is the relationship between health care providers and patients. Nurses have a great role in improving patients’ adherence since they have the most acquaintances with patients. The purpose of this study was to identify the association between caring nurses’ behaviors and respondent characteristics with adherence to hemodialysis therapy management in end- stage renal disease patients. Methods: This study employed a descriptive quantitative research design with a cross sectional approach. A purposive sample of 97 ESRD patients on hemodialysis were involved in this study. data were collected using questionnaire to identify patients’ characteristics, perception on nurses caring behaviors, and compliance on hemodialysis therapy management. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses. Results: Over half of the patients were adherent to hemodialysis therapy management (50.5%) and perceived that nurses have caring behaviors (54.6%). Age, gender, education, economic and marital status were not associated with patients’ adherence. In addition, nurses caring behaviors were not related with patients’ adherence. In contrast, family support was significantly linked with patients’ adherence (p = 0.033). Conclusion: Nurses caring behaviors were not related to patients’ adherence but family support was. Nurses need to involve family in nursing care as appropriate to better improve patients’ adherence. Key words: end- stage renal disease, nurses’ caring behaviors, patients’ adherence