The effect of spirituality-oriented psychological counseling on the fear of death among patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Chronic renal failure as a progressive pathological process can reduce patient quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the effect of spirituality-oriented psychological counseling (SOPC) on fear of death (FOD) among hemodialysis patients. This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2019–2020. Through convenience sampling, 66 hemodialysis patients were selected and randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group in Modares hospital in Saveh, Iran. Each patient was evaluated pre-and post-intervention by the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale. Both groups received routine spiritual care weekly. But the intervention group received additional psychological counseling named SOPC. The SOPC comprised six sessions conducted for 45 min every day. This trial was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (RCT No. IRCT20161210031328N10). There was no significant difference between the intervention and control group on FOD (60.75±15.72 vs. 61.48±16.23, p=0.26), before the intervention. However, after the intervention, the FOD in the intervention group was significantly less than the control group (35.01±15.23 vs. 60.72±16.79, p=0.01). The mean score of FOD in the intervention group had a significant decrease after the intervention (p=0.01). While the score of FOD in the control group has no significant difference after the intervention (p=0.26). This study shows that the SOPC reduces the FOD in Shia-Muslim hemodialysis patients. It is suggested that further studies be conducted on the effect of the SOPC on the FOD in other populations as well.