Relationship Between Social Support and Nutritional Status of End Stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis*

Abstract

This research aimed to examine the relationship between social support and

nutritional status of end stage renal disease patients with hemodialysis. House’s concept of social support was applied as a framework for the study. The sample was purposively selected whish consisted 85 end stage renal disease patients with hemodialysis who were admitted at Siriraj Hospital from December 2012 to February 2013. The data was collected by using personal data record forms, House’s Social Support Questionnaire and Subjective Global Assessment Tool. The data was analyzed by statistical package.

The findings revealed that the sample was 1) Seventy seven point six percent

of the sample were having minimal malnutrition  2)The patients received overall social support, in the areas of emotional, evaluation, information, materials, monetary and labor supports at moderate level and 3)Social supports in the area of material, monetary and labor were statistical significantly related to nutritional status at < .05. Social supports in overall, as well as in the aspect of emotional, evaluation and information were not statistical significantly related to nutritional status.

The findings suggest that nurses who work at hemodialysis unit should apply Subjective Global Assessment Tool to assess the nutritional status of the end stage renal disease patients having hemodialysis. If the patients had nutritional problem, nurses could help them appropriately.