The Relationship Between Self-Management, Symptom Status, and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients

Yasemin Sazak; Yelda Koçak; Nurhan Aktaş

doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1804162

The Relationship Between Self-Management, Symptom Status, and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study is to assess the quality of life, self-management, and symptom levels of hemodialysis patients and to ascertain the correlation between them. Methods: The study was conducted between September 2024 and May 2025 in the hemodialysis units of a state hospital and a university hospital in a province in Turkey. The study, which had a descriptive and correlational design, was completed with 142 patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. Data collection tools included the Patient Identification Form, Chronic Illness Self-Management Scale, SF-36 Quality of Life Scale, and Dialysis Symptom Index. Data were collected from patients in person. Results: In this study, it was found that hemodialysis patients had low quality of life and a moderate symptom burden. Patients’ treatment adherence sub-dimension scores were higher than those of other sub-dimensions. Moreover, a significant negative relationship was observed between patients’ symptom index scores and both quality of life and disease self-management, while a positive relationship was found between quality of life and self-management. The self-stigma and treatment adherence sub-dimensions of the quality of life and self-management scales explained 53.4% of the variance in the symptom index. Conclusion: This study found that an increase in symptom burden reduced quality of life and self-management in patients. Our findings will guide future interventions aimed at reducing symptom burden and improving self-management and quality of life in patients, providing direction for studies involving nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Internal Diseases Nursing , Nephrology Nursing

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Yasemin Sazak ^*
0000-0001-9296-0719
Türkiye

Yelda Koçak
0000-0001-8485-8554
Türkiye

Nurhan Aktaş
0000-0003-1375-0719
Türkiye

Publication Date

January 16, 2026

Submission Date

October 15, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 7, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 17 Number: January, February, March 2026

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1804162

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA48UN52NW

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

EndNote

Sazak Y, Koçak Y, Aktaş N (January 1, 2026) The Relationship Between Self-Management, Symptom Status, and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17 January, February, March 2026