Factors affecting supportive needs in hemodialysis patients: A literature review

BACKGROUND: Explaining the factors affecting supportive needs of patients under hemodialysis seems to be essential to supply their needs. Also, it can help healthcare providers to make favorite decisions about care planning to improve the patients' quality of life. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the factors affecting supportive needs in hemodialysis patients using a literature review. METHODS: This literature review was carried out in PubMed, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, SID, Magiran, and Iranmedex. Data based were searched from 2000 to 2018 using the keywords of “Need“, “Supportive Need“, and “Hemodialysis“. In a total of 239 full texts of published articles, 12 such relevant articles were selected. RESULTS: The finding showed that the factors affecting the supportive need of patients can be categorised into two: internal and external factors. Internal factors consist of patient-related factors, disease-related factors, and treatment-related factors. External factors consist of personal living circumstances, health system-related factors and socioeconomic factors. CONCLUSION: By explaining the factors affecting supportive need in hemodialysis patients, it may help clinicians and researchers to identify the patients' need, developing an appropriate questionnaire, and implementing suitable intervention. As a result, it can improve their quality of life.