Attitudes facing pain and the spirituality of chronic renal patients in hemodialysis

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent studies show that religion and spirituality are important for the dialysis patient since these variables have been shown to influence important aspects of quality of life and to cope with the disease. In addition, spirituality may be effective in coping with chronic kidney disease and relieving symptoms arising from hemodialysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the attitudes towards the pain in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis and its relation with spirituality. METHODS: This is a co-relational and cross-sectional study of 50 patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. The data were collected through an individual interview, using the sociodemographic characterization questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory and the Pinto and Pais-Ribeiro Spirituality Scale. RESULTS: Regarding attitudes facing chronic pain measured by the Brief Pain Inventory, the lowest mean score was in the “Solicitude” domain (1.48±1.35) and the highest in “Incapacity” (3.05±1.37). As for spirituality, the mean scores were 3.80±0.39 and 3.36±0.67 in the beliefs and hope/optimism dimensions, respectively. A positive, moderate-magnitude correlation was observed between the hope/optimism dimension of the Pinto and Pais-Ribeiro Spirituality Scale and the solicitude domains (r=0.315, p=0.026) and emotion (r=0.299, p=0.035) of the Brief Pain Inventory. CONCLUSION: The relationship between attitudes facing pain and the level of spirituality of the chronic renal patient was confirmed. Therefore, these aspects should be considered in the care provided to help in coping with the treatment and the disease. (AU)