HOPELESSNESS IN PATIENTS RECEIVING HEMODIALYSIS TREATMENT IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A DESCRIPTIVE AND CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to reveal the hopelessness level of the patients receiving hemodialysis treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors affecting it. Method: This study was conducted with patients receiving HD treatment in dialysis centers affiliated with three hospitals in a province in Northeast Turkey between January and April 2022. The universe of the research is all patients who are treated in the dialysis units of the mentioned hospitals (N=147). The study was completed with 110 patients who met the inclusion criteria and volunteered to participate in the study. The data of the study were collected with the “Descriptive Information Form”, “Charlson Comorbidity Index” and “Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS)”. Results: 58.2% of the patients with a mean age of 63.30±15.33 were male, and 80.0% were married. 50.9% of them were diagnosed with COVID-19, 56.4% perceived themselves in the risk group for COVID-19, and 30.0% stated that COVID-19 causes hopelessness in their daily life. The mean total score was 7.87±5.38 for the BHS and 5.34±2.35 for the Charlson Comorbidity Index. There was a significant positive correlation between BHS total score and age (p