Effect of Positive Coping Skills Practical Guidance Program on Hemodialysis Children and Caregiver's Satisfaction

Abstract

Background: Hemodialysis imposes significant physical and psychosocial stressors on children and their caregivers, necessitating the development of positive coping skills to regulate emotions and reduce stress. Effective interventions are critical to enhancing emotional resilience and coping mechanisms. 

Aim of the study: This study aimed to determine the effect of positive coping skills practical guidance programs on hemodialysis children and their caregiver’s satisfaction.

Research approaches: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 children undergoing hemodialysis at Zagazig University Children’s Hospital, Egypt, from April to September 2023. Data were collected using four tools: an interview questionnaire for demographic data, the Simple Mental Health Pain Scale to assess emotional distress, the Kids Coping Scale (KCS), and a positive coping skills checklist.

Results: The mean age of the studied children was 13.4±3.6 years.  Problem-focused coping was practiced by 16.70% of the studied children before intervention, while increased to 81.70% after intervention. Emotional-focused problem was practiced by 88.30% post intervention.  Avoidant coping was practiced by 85% pre intervention, while this percentage decreased to 20% post intervention. Through follow up, 83.3% of studied children practiced emotional focused coping, 78.30% practiced problem focused coping, and 23.30% practiced avoidant coping.  Moreover, the mean score of mental health pain among hemodialysis children decreased from 5.95±1.8 to 3.28±1.6, and decreased in follow-up to 3.95±1.5 with high statistical significance (P < 0.001). All caregivers reported their satisfaction with the program.

Conclusion: There were statistically significant differences among children before and after the application of program.  The positive coping skills practical guidance program has a positive effect on hemodialysis children as the program shifted the children from avoidant coping to approach coping and decreased their mental pain. All caregivers reported their satisfaction as well as their children with the program.

Recommendation: Children receiving hemodialysis require more psychological programs and practical assistance on positive coping skills to reduce mental pain and to reduce the burden of hemodialysis on children.