老年末期腎病患者生命意義感及影響因素之探討

Exploring Factors Affecting Meaning of Life Perceptions among ESRD Elders

背景：台灣末期腎病(ESRD)患者正逐年增加，其中近五成為六十五歲以上長者，其所面臨的疾病狀況及身、心、靈各層面的健康議題值得各界重視。雖目前已有許多學者投入國內外相關的研究，但研究方向多與病患的身、心理相關議題為重，而靈性層面的文獻仍相當缺乏。目的：本研究欲探討老年末期腎病患者罹病後生命意義之感受及影響因素。方法：研究設計採描述相關性研究設計。以立意取樣的方式選取80位南部某縣市洗腎中心裡診斷為末期腎病之老年患者。研究工具包括基本屬性問卷、生命意義量表。所收集資料以SPSS 12.0版統計軟體進行分析。結果：台灣老年末期腎病患者之生命意義感普遍偏低，而教育程度、社會經濟狀態及是否參與休閒活動與其生命意義感有顯著差異及相關。結論：本研究結果可提供臨床醫護人員評估老年末期腎病患者生命意義感受之參考，進而能給予所需的靈性照護及提供足夠的支持。

Background: The number of patient with end stage renal disease (ESRD) has been growing in Taiwan. Nearly 50% of ESRD sufferers are 65 years of age or older. The disease as well as issues related to patient physiology, psychology, and spiritual well-being are worth taking seriously. While research into this topic area has been conducted, most studies addressed issues in the physiological and psychological dimensions. Studies addressing the domain of spiritual well-being remain inadequate. The purpose of this study was to explore factors affecting meaning of life perceptions in ESRD elders.Methods: Using a descriptive-correlation research approach, we employed purposive sampling to collect data from 80 ESRD elders currently under the care of a hemodialysis center in southern Taiwan. Research instruments used included a demographic questionnaire and Meaning in Life Scale. Data were analysed using SPSS 12.0 software.Results: Findings showed that ESRD elders had relatively low meaning in life scores compared to the overall ESRD population in Taiwan. Influencing factors included education level, socio-economic status, and level of participation in leisure activities.Conclusion: Study findings may provide health professionals a better understanding of meaning of life perceptions amongst elders with ESRD, and, as a result, help them target better spiritual care and supportive interventions.