Young Ran Chae1, Hyo Young Kang1, Sun Hee Lee1, Young Mi Jo2, Hyun Ju Koo1

1Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea 2Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon Korea


Background: Family support and medical staff support of hemodialysis patients are related to sick-role behav- ior, and sick-role behavior is related to physiological indicators such as interdialytic weight gain and control of potassium and phosphorus in the blood.
Methods: The subjects were 139 hemodialysis patients. Data were collected on demographic and dis- ease-related characteristics, social support (family support and medical staff support), sick-role behavior, and physiological indicators (interdialytic weight gain, blood potassium, and blood phosphorus).
Results: Degrees of family support and medical staff support were both nearly 3.85 points, and sick-role behav- ior was 3.96 points. Family support (r=0.449, P<0.001) and medical staff support (r=0.421, P<0.001) were pos- itively correlated with sick-role behavior, and sick-role behavior was inversely correlated with interdialytic weight gain (r=-0.218, P=0.010) and blood phosphorus (r=-0.170, P=0.045).
Conclusions: The higher the degree of family support and medical staff support, the higher the degree of sick-role behavior. In addition, the higher the level of sick- role behavior, the lower the physiological indicators of interdialytic weight gain and blood phosphorus. Therefore, in order to improve sick-role behavior and physio- logical indicators, it is necessary to develop and apply an enhanced intervention program through family sup- port and medical staff support.
Korean J Health Promot 2020;20(1):24-32