Purpose: To describe the relationship between perceived social support and the quality of life in hemodialysis patients from an Islamic cultural background in Iran.
Design: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. Data were collected in hemodialysis units affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences. Two hundred and two Muslim hemodialysis patients were selected by census during 2007.
Methods: The Persian versions of the Personal Resources Questionnaire 85 (PRQ-85) Part II and the Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index-dialysis version were used. The data were analyzed using chi-square test and Spearman's rho correlation coefficients.
Findings: There were a statistically significant relationship between perceived social support and health-functioning (r = .65, p < or = .05), socioeconomic (r = .67, p < or = .05), psychological-spiritual (r = .63, p < or = .05), and family subscales of quality of life (r = .51, p < or = .05). Total quality of life was also significantly correlated with perceived social support (r = 0.72, p= .00).
Conclusions: Perceived social support is associated with quality of life in Iranian hemodialysis patients.
Clinical relevance: It is important to reflect on the impact of culture and religion of Iran on quality of life of hemodialysis patients and their perceived social support.