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Religiousness, mental health, and quality of life in B razilian dialysis patients
Author(s) -
Lucchetti Giancarlo,
Almeida Luiz Guilherme Camargo,
Lucchetti Alessandra Lamas Granero
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
hemodialysis international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.658
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1542-4758
pISSN - 1492-7535
DOI - 10.1111/j.1542-4758.2011.00623.x
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , hemodialysis , confounding , dialysis , anxiety , coping (psychology) , religiosity , mental health , kidney disease , depression (economics) , clinical psychology , gerontology , psychiatry , psychology , nursing , social psychology , economics , macroeconomics
Patients with chronic kidney disease often use religion as a coping strategy to relieve suffering and serve as a source of strength. The aim of this study was to identify religious aspects associated with mental health and quality of life in B razilian dialysis patients. A cross‐sectional study was performed involving two dialysis centers in B razil. Patients were selected consecutively over three typical dialysis treatment days. The questionnaire was self‐administered and covered the following aspects: socio‐demographic aspects, religiousness (using the P ortuguese version of the P rivate and S ocial R eligious P ractice S cale), quality of life ( W orld H ealth O rganization Quality of L ife brief Scale Brief Version), depression and anxiety ( B eck I nventory), and pain grade. For statistical analysis, the hypothesis that different religious variables are associated (positively or negatively) with depressive/anxiety symptoms and quality of life in these patients was tested using linear regression, controlling for confounding variables. A total of 205 patients were invited to participate and 133 (64.8%) agreed to fill out the questionnaire. On the adjusted model, reading religious literature was found to be inversely associated with depressive symptoms ( P < 0.001). In addition, the psychological domain of quality of life was positively associated with an increase in patient religiosity ( P = 0.030) and greater religious importance for recovery from their dialysis condition ( P = 0.016), whereas the environmental domain was positively associated with greater religious importance for recovery ( P = 0.032). No religious aspects were associated with anxiety symptoms. Religiousness is associated with less depressive symptoms and better quality of life in B razilian dialysis patients. Nephrologists should evaluate the patient's spirituality and religion in order to provide more integrative care.