Assessment of Quality of Life and Self Efficacy among the Patients Undergoing Heamodialysis in Selected Dialysis Unit of West Bengal

Introduction: Haemodialysis is the most common procedure often used to treat patients with advanced and permanent kidney failure. Since the 1960s, haemodialysis became a useful treatment for kidney failure.1 It has a great impact in life that can cause a severe stress and bring a change of emotional reactions2. More specifically, haemodialysis affects the physical and psychological well-being of the patients and their social and economic status, ensuing a large number of patients with psychological distress3. Chronic kidney disease is a major public health problem throughout the world. In the last 10 years, it is seen that the prevalence and frequency of CKD has risen steadily by four to eight percent per year throughout the world. It becomes a global threat with significant morbidity and mortality. It decreases patients? overall quality of life (QOL). QOL is used to evaluate the general well being of individuals. It may vary according to the patient as well as the disease condition.4 The study was mainly aimed at to measure the Quality of Life (QoL) and self efficacy the of patients undergoing heamodyalysis and to find out the relationship between QoL and self efficacy.5 Methods: In this cross section survey a total of 80 patients attended heamodyalysis unit of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Medical College and Hospital were assigned by convenience sampling technique. The primary outcomes were self efficacy and quality of life of patients who gave consent for participation. The data were collected through WHOQOL-BREF assessment scale and (SEMCD-6) tool which were checked for reliability prior administration of the tool. Results: The result shows that there was a noticeable relationship (p<0.05) between QoL and self efficacy (r-value 0.74 and its t-value 8.37*) that indicated that there was a high positive correlation between patient?s quality of life and their self-efficacy. Discussion: The assessment of Quality of Life and self efficacy revealed that the majority of the haemodialysis patients had a good perception level about their quality of life. It was observed that variables such as age, gender, education level, annual family income, duration of confirmation of the disease, duration of receiving haemodialysis had no effect on quality of life. The study found that according patient?s perception level of self-efficacy, most patients were confident to perform their activity of daily living with only small fraction being very low confident about their self-efficacy. It was found that patients with more education had a better SEMCD-6 score. Findings from this study suggest that with the purpose of improving patients' quality of life, health care professionals need to first identify haemodialysis patients who lack the self-care efficacy required to self-care, and then focus on specific educational interventions to build confidence.