The Effect of Peer Support on Hope Among Patients Under Hemodialysis

INTRODUCTION: Providing social support for patients under hemodialysis treatment can reduce their psychological, social, and physical problems. The present study aimed at determining the effect of peer support on hopefulness in patients under hemodialysis. METHODS: This clinical trial with a pre/posttest design was conducted on 128 patients who had referred to the hemodialysis centers of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2019. The patients were randomly divided into an intervention and a control group. The patients in the intervention group were supported by their peers for eight weeks and were provided with the usual care, but the controls were only provided with the usual care. The data were collected using Snyder Hope Scale. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS software, version 18 and were analyzed using independent t-test and paired t-test. RESULTS: At baseline, the participants in both groups were similar with respect to the mean scores of hope and its subscales (p>0.05). However, there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of hope and its subscales eight weeks after the intervention (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results confirmed the effect of peer support on increasing hope among the patients under hemodialysis. Peer support in informational, emotional, instrumental, and spiritual forms could create a positive incentive and increase hope among the patients. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: This clinical trial has been registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20190126042498N1).