Effect of prayer on the self-care agency and hope in hemodialysis patients

Background: The level of self-care of hemodialysis patients is important in controlling the disease process and symptoms. Nursing care has an important place in the process of resolving existing or developing problems of patients receiving hemodialysis treatment and in adapting to treatment. Prayer is not only a resource that encourages religious/spiritual coping, it is also a spirituality that strengthens hope. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether prayer has an effect on self-care agency and hope in hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and correlational study which was conducted with 180 patients in a private and a public dialysis center. The data of 173 hemodialysis patients who met the inclusion criteria were collected using personal information form, Herth Hope Scale, Self-care Agency Scale, and Prayer Attitude Scale. Results: A positive, moderate, and statistically significant correlation was found between the Prayer Attitude Scale and total score (r = 0.144, P = 0.048) and sub-scale future (r = 0.350, P = 0.000) of Herth Hope Scale. And there was positive correlation between the Prayer Attitude Scale and the total score of Self-care Agency Scale (r = 0.599, P = 0.000) and its five sub-dimensions drug use (r = 0.566, P = 0.000), diet (r = 0.619, P = 0.000), self-monitoring (r = 0.522, P = 0.000), hygienic care (r = 0.576, P = 0.000) and mental status (r = 0.328, P = 0.000). Conclusions: The study found that prayer had a positive effect on self-care agency and hope in hemodialysis patients.