Influence of Social Support and Health Literacy on Treatment Adherence in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

This study was a descriptive research study for hemodialysis patients to survey the effects of social support and health literacy on treatment adherence. The subjects of this study were 140 hemodialysis patients aged over 40 years who had been receiving treatment for more 1 year in artificial kidney rooms at two general hospitals in Y city. The data were collected from November 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 26.0 statistical program. The results of this study show that social support (family, friends, medical staff) and health literacy (functional, communication, critical) were positively correlated with treatment adherence. The variables affecting treatment adherence in hemodialysis patients were identified by social support and health literacy with 69.6% explanatory power. To improve the treatment adherence of hemodialysis patients, it is necessary to develop education programs to improve health literacy based on social support.